January 18, 2005

Environmental Advocates Responds to Governor Pataki’s Executive Budget
Plan Represents Real Progress

(Albany, N.Y.) – The Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Executive Budget released by Gov. George Pataki today “represents real progress for New York,” said Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY) Executive Director Robert Moore.

“The budget represents a positive trend for conservation and protection of our natural resources,” Moore said. “Most of all, it demonstrates that Governor Pataki heard the concerns of people who care deeply about these issues.” Environmental Advocates has been concerned with a multi-year decrease in the percentage of the state budget that is invested in environmental protection and with reduced staffing levels at the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has been flat-lined at $125 million for several years, even as the need for increased funding has grown. In the budget proposal released today, Governor Pataki announced a permanent increase of $25 million to the EPF. “While we have not yet seen all the details,” Moore said, “his plan is clearly moving in the right direction. It increases the size of the Environmental Protection Fund to $150 million using real estate transfer fees, which is a logical source for additional environmental funding.”

In addition to the EPF, Moore cited new staffing initiatives at the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as a highpoint of the plan. “The Governor has said he supports badly needed wetlands protections and that seven additional staff members will be hired at the Department of Environmental Conservation to administer the program.” New fees charged to those who would develop in wetland areas will be used to pay staff salaries.

In a July 2004 report, Endangered Agency, EANY documented the decade-long reduction in staffing at the DEC and its impact on the environment. There are currently approximately 700 fewer employees at the agency than 10 years ago. Today, in addition to new wetlands staff, Governor Pataki announced that the Superfund/Brownfields program passed by the Legislature in 2003 is on track. Funding in this year’s budget plan, along with last year’s investment, will bring to more than 70 the number of new staff hired at the agency to carry out the expanded contaminated site cleanup plan. In addition, the Governor has committed to filling vacancies that are created this year. “We’ve got a long way to go to fully address shortages of scientists," engineers and enforcement officials, Moore said, “but he has arrested the slide.”