We received a message from our friends at American Farmland Trust saying that the proposed budget for New York State from Governor Paterson calls for cuts of almost 40% to the state’s environmental and agricultural programs.

According to the AFT’s message:

These agricultural programs in the Environmental Protection Fund support a farm and food industry that annually contributes more than $23 billion to New York’s economy, while producing fresh, healthy foods, beautiful landscapes and a cleaner environment.

There are solutions, rather than simply cutting these programs that are important to all New Yorkers. The Legislature and Governor could adopt the Bigger Better Bottle Bill that would expand nickel deposits to noncarbonated beverages. An expanded Bottle Bill could generate more than $200 million annually and help grow environmental funding over the long-term in New York.

The governor's proposal also includes a measure to replace the traditional source of EPF funding—the real estate transfer tax (RETT)—with bottle bill revenues. This approach will jeopardize a stable source of environmental funding: the RETT must be preserved to meet increasing environmental needs across New York.

The need to curb spending in the face of declining revenues is understandable, but this is also a time when public spending is needed to provide economic stimulus. A fare share of public spending should go to programs designed to produce a healthier, more sustainable food system, for all of us here now and for generations to come.

If you’d like to make your voice heard on this environmental issue go to: American Farmland Trust