How to resolve AdBlock issue? ALBANY — Referring to it as “the most monumental state budget for environmental funding in state history,” the Open Space Institute this week applauded the New York State funding agreement which confirms New York State’s status as a national leader in fighting climate change and protecting natural resources.
The spending plan includes approval of a $4.2 billion environmental bond act which will go before the voters in November, a new record-setting $400 million funding level for the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, and establishes a new baseline to support and improve state parks and public lands.
In addition to the environmental bond act, the newly enacted budget expands the state’s Environmental Protection Fund to $400 million for the upcoming fiscal year. Also included was a $250 million commitment to improve state parks and make them more welcoming to the public.
The new baseline support level marks a dramatic turnaround for New York State Parks, which just ten years ago had a capital budget of only $29 million for the care and upkeep if its more than 200 state parks and historic sites, says Kim Elliman, president and CEO of the Open Space Institute.
