Keep Protecting New York - Enhance Environmental Funding

We Love New York urges state leaders to show how much they love New York by enhancing environmental funding, which safeguards what we love most about New York: our clean air and water, protected parklands and working farms, and good quality jobs.

Investing in programs that protect the environment can support New York’s economic recovery by creating jobs, supporting industries like forestry, farming, and recycling, increasing property values, and boosting tourism in every corner of the state. The Environmental Protection Fund must be enhanced to keep the Empire State great. We must keep protecting New York!

About the EPF

• Established in 1993, the Fund is New York State’s dedicated source of funding for critical environmental programs that protect what we love about New York – our clean drinking water, our magnificent parks, and our family farms.

• It is a fiscally responsible, pay-as-you-go, capital projects account for making major, long-term investments in the quality of life in New York.

• The EPF’s dedicated funding source takes no money away from other state priorities. The Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) has funded the EPF since it was created, and generates between $400 million and more than $1 billion annually in new state revenue. A portion of the revenue is dedicated to the Fund each year as part of the budget, and the remainder is used for the General Fund, where it can be spent on non-environmental programs. So, it is already helping to balance the budget each year.

• Environmental funding has benefitted every county in New York State. EPF investments create jobs, eliminate solid waste, prevent pollution and invasive species, protect natural resources and community character, revitalize urban areas, and connect people with the outdoors.

The EPF and the State Budget (State Fiscal Year 2012-13)

We Love New York supports Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal, which maintains the Environmental Protection Fund at last year’s level--$134 million.  Especially in the context of yet another multi-billion dollar budget deficit, this is an important step to achieving sustainable levels of environmental funding.  As the state continues to face significant fiscal challenges, this investment not only protects the environment, but spurs job creation that will help New York’s economic recovery.

Click here to see a chart of this year’s proposed EPF budget.

As the Governor and Legislature work together towards finalizing a plan for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2012-2013, these leaders should take the opportunity to leverage state funding through the EPF to deploy capital to projects around the state that protect natural resources and create jobs. In order to continue to build a healthy environment and economy for New York, language should be included in this year’s budget to enhance the EPF further as revenues improve in the future.

Click here to read a fact sheet about strategies lawmakers can include in this year’s budget to enhance the EPF in the future.

County Fact Sheets

Click on the counties below to learn how hundreds of investments from the Environmental Protection Fund are safeguarding the things New Yorkers love most.

Albany County
Allegany County
Bronx County
Broome County
Chemung County
Chenango County
Columbia County
Dutchess County
Erie County
Greene County
Hamilton County
Jefferson County
Brooklyn/Kings County
Madison County
Monroe County
Nassau County
Manhattan/New York County
Onondaga County
Orange County
Queens County
Putnam County
Rensselaer County
Staten Island/Richmond County
Rockland County
St. Lawrence County
Saratoga County
Schenectady County
Suffolk County
Ulster County
Westchester County

Return on Investment:  How the EPF is generating revenue and jobs for New York

A new analysis shows that the output from New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund generates positive yearly economic returns for jobs, local economies, and property values. Prepared by The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, the report details the economic benefits realized from the Environmental Protection Fund.

THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF NEW YORK’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND

THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF NEW YORK’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND - Fact Sheet