Your Testimony is Needed by Tuesday (3/23)

On Wednesday (3/24), the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee is holding a public hearing on SB 887 – a bill to implement the Governor’s FY 2022 – 2023 Budget, which includes bond authorizations for open space, trails, state parks, and more.

Please take Action!

Send Testimony by Tuesday (3/23) asking the Committee to:

Support the Bond Package with Increased Funding for Open Space!

See sample testimony below

• Please submit testimony by email to FINtestimony@cga.ct.gov
• Attach your testimony to your email in either Word or PDF format and “Testimony for SB 887 for Public Hearing” in the subject line
• Please cc: your State Legislators and bcc: me at abpaterson@ctconservation.org
• Deadline to submit: Tuesday, March 23 at 3:00pm
• View full hearing notice w/ sign-up instructions to testify via Zoom

Sample Testimony (best to use your own words)

Dear Members of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee,

Thank you for this opportunity to submit testimony in support of funding for the following important land conservation programs in the Governor’s FY 2022 – 2023 Budget (SB 887):

• Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA), providing matching grants for land trusts, municipalities, and water companies to acquire land for open space and watershed protection. OSWA includes the Urban Green and Community Garden Program for targeted and distressed communities. Please support DEEP’s request for $10 Million per year for OSWA.
• The Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program (RNHT) for DEEP purchases for recreation, open space, resource protection and resource management. Please support DEEP’s request for $10 Million per year for RNHT.
• CT Recreational Trails Program (RTP), providing matching grants to non-profits, municipalities, and others for trail-related projects including construction and maintenance, acquisition of easements, and trail access for people with disabilities. Please support Governor’s Budget recommendation for $3 Million per year for RTP.

[Important: Please insert a personal message on why open space is important to your community including, if applicable, examples of OSWA projects and impacts that recent reductions in OSWA funding has had on your land trust/community’s land conservation efforts.]

Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Sincerely,

Your name/organization/town

Thanks for taking action!

Now more than ever we need to invest in funding to support the land conservation work of land trusts, municipalities, and the state to ensure equitable public access to land, water, and other natural resources, and the environmental, economic, and public health benefits that they provide.

Sincerely,

Amy Blaymore Paterson, Esq.
Executive Director
abpaterson@ctconservation.org

P.S. More information about SB 887 is here. If you have any questions about this action alert, please contact me anytime.