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Budget Issues--2003
Environmental programs are only 1% of the overall state budget -- but a little money goes a long way:
- State investment in environmental programs leverages additional funds - from both the federal government and private foundations.
- State investment in environmental programs cuts health-care costs - with clean air, safe water supplies, and enforcement of existing laws, Massachusetts citizens stay healthy.
- State investment in environmental programs leverages local action - towns are more able to protect local resources, encourage recycling, and implement environmental laws.
Over the past fiscal year, the Department of Environmental Protection alone has sustained a 15 percent cut in staffing. The Environmental League, working with other Massachusetts environmental organizations, has developed a series of fact sheets that describe the impacts of these budget cuts on environmental and public health protection. Each fact sheet also suggests how limited resources should be directed to get the most protection of public health and the environment, and options for generating new revenue.