• DCR State Parks & Recreation, filed by Rep. Anne Gobi
• DCR Seasonal Staffing, filed by Rep. Bruce Ayers
• DEP Administration, filed by Rep. David Rogers

Our Parks and the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) need your help!

This week, the House Committee on Ways & Means released its budget for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15). Representatives must file their budget amendments this week. Later this month, the House will take the budget up for a vote, and then the Senate will go through the same process in May.

The House Ways & Means budget does not provide adequate funding for environmental protection programs.

ELM is working with members of the legislature to file amendments for a package of Green Budget priorities. ELM is also advocating for legislators to sign on as co-sponsors to show that there is broad support. Your speaking up now can make all the difference!

Background information:

• DCR State Parks & Recreation: Severe budget cuts have led to closed and poorly maintained facilities. In order to provide more quality outdoor experiences to Massachusetts residents and visitors, it is essential that Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) staffing levels be increased. For every $1M DCR receives, it can hire 20 full-time employees. In FY2014, this line-item's funding was 21% below the FY2008 amount. the House Ways & Means budget would cut DCR State Parks & Recreation by $1.7M.
• DCR Seasonal Staffing: Seasonal staff play a significant role in supporting DCR's parks operations and comprise a considerable portion of the staff needed to keep open critical recreational amenities such as swimming pools, campgrounds, and skating rinks. Since FY2009 this line-item has been cut approximately $3.2M (20%), forcing DCR to reduce its seasonal workforce.
• DEP Administration: The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for implementing the Commonwealth's environmental laws and protecting our air, water, land, and health from environmental threats. To support effective implementation of DEP's core programs, it is vital to fully fund DEP's operating account.

Thank you to all of you who filled out the Friends Network DCR Park Funding Survey. We are proud to report that 78 Friends completed the survey. (The survey captured comments on how years of cuts to the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) budget have affected your favorite beach, forest or park.)

The Friends Network Facilitators presented the information you provided about the funding needs of your parks to the Legislative Caucus on April 12. We will follow up with a public report based on your survey responses. Great showing! Much appreciated!

But we must keep working for our forests and parklands in the months ahead. Expect another action alert next week to ask your representatives to vote for the Green Budget amendment. Voting will take place during the week of April 28.

Thank you for caring,
The Friends Network Facilitators

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