NOW: Community Green Fund Bill Needs Your Support

Our cities and towns have a long list of needs that have broad community support and the potential to return significant environmental, economic, public health and quality of life dividends. 

The problem is, there’s no funding for them. And fiscally speaking, Connecticut’s cities and towns are at the mercy of the State:  municipalities  may collect revenue only if the state says they may. 

Enter the Community Green Fund bill.

The Community Green Fund (SB 834) would give cities and towns the OPTION [emphasis deliberate to defuse detractors who continue to wrongly believe that the bill is a mandate] to create a funding mechanism for these badly needed projects.  SB 834 legislation has broad support across Connecticut's environmental community and from the Connecticut Conference for Municipalities for the leeway and local control it provides .

But the bill has to be revived in the Environment Committee  if it has any chance of being enacted. 

The window of opportunity for passing Community Green Fund legislation this year is closing fast. After a very successful public hearing on January 27th, the Environment Committee failed to approve SB 834 before their deadline. This legislation needs to come back to the Committee for consideration before it is too late.

The Environment Committee is scheduled to meet TODAY, Friday April 8th, at 10:00 AM. This meeting offers an opportunity for all of us to show strong support for the Community Green Fund.

Please take a moment to email the following members of the Environment Committee – RIGHT NOW –  and ask them to support the Community Green Fund that:

• Expands local options for funding conservation
• Respects local decision making - it is enabling legislation only
• Assesses a fee on purchasers NOT sellers
• Maintains affordability by exempting the first $150,000 of purchase value
• Provides matching funds required for state, federal and/or private grants
• Funds a broad range of critical conservation needs for urban, suburban and rural communities (list below)

Let’s get it done!  Copy and paste these addresses into your email program to send your short message of support for SB 834, The Community Green Fund Bill. 

Meyer@senatedems.ct.gov
Richard.Roy@cga.ct.gov
Paul.Davis@cga.ct.gov
Maynard@senatedems.ct.gov
Terry.Backer@cga.ct.gov
Jack.Hennessy@cga.ct.gov
Geoff.Luxenberg@cga.ct.gov
Robert.Megna@cga.ct.gov
Philip.Miller@cga.ct.gov
Mary.Mushinsky@cga.ct.gov
Kim.Rose@cga.ct.gov
Kevin.Ryan@cga.ct.gov
Diana.Urban@cga.ct.gov
Roberta.Willis@cga.ct.gov
Christopher.Wright@cga.ct.gov

Examples of the types of conservation projects eligible for funding through the Community Green Fund include:

• open space and farm land protection
• brownfield remediation, including planning costs
• water and/or air purification
• storm water infrastructure
• alternative energy production or energy efficiency measures
• mass transit and/or non-vehicular transportation infrastructure
• historic preservation