Under economic cloud, voters stay true to conservation
 | | Sunrise Property, Bull Mountain, Tigard, OR |
In an historic victory for land conservation, voters passed 80 percent of the land conservation initiatives nationwide, sending a loud and clear message that conservation remains a bedrock American value and a top priority even in a bad economy.
Overall, 28 of 35 state and local land conservation funding measures were approved, generating just over $2 billion in new funding.
In a midterm election clouded by economic worries and negative campaigning, our message resonated with the voters: conserving land and water is an investment in the economy as well as in the legacy we leave our children. Three-quarters of the campaigns supported by the Conservation Campaign were victorious. A few of the highlights:
-- Oregon Measure 76, renewing the dedication of 15 percent of state lottery funding for water, parks and wildlife, passed by 68 percent. More than half of the voters in every county supported it.
-- In the nation's heartland, the Iowa's Water and Land Legacy amendment won by 63 percent even though the Farm Bureau spent more than $150,000 to defeat it. The initiative established a constitutionally protected land conservation trust to be funded by a future sales tax increase.
-- A bond to renew Land for Maine's Future won with 59 percent of the vote, pulling in the same strong support as previous bonds.
-- Dorchester County, SC, approved a $5 million bond referendum to create a new land conservation program in the rapidly developing suburbs of Charleston.
-- Tigard, OR, voters approved a $17 million bond for land acquisition and parks after turning down a similar measure last year.
-- Four of five Massachusetts communities seeking to levy a Community Preservation Act property tax surcharge approved the ballot question. This funding, matched by the state, is dedicated to land conservation, historic preservation, recreation and affordable housing.
Check our website for a full run-down of the November 2 results.
|
|
Double your conservation dollars!
Our board will match your online donation dollar for dollar. Send your gift today to win funding for conservation.
|
