Chesapeake Bay Foundation Calls on Legislators to Swiftly Pass Bay-Friendly Budget

As Bills Cross Over, Advocates Urge Legislators to Uphold Vital Environmental Funding

Last week, the Maryland Senate passed a state operating budget that largely supports continued progress for Chesapeake Bay restoration. Now, as the House considers its budget, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and advocates are urging delegates to uphold a strong environmental budget and avoid additional cuts to clean water programs and agencies.

“Despite another challenging budget deficit this year, investments in the Chesapeake Bay have held steadfast with bipartisan support. But we are not yet over the finish line, and potential last-minute surprises could set back years of Bay restoration progress,” said CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden. “As legislators enter the final month of session, we thank them for protecting critical environmental funding thus far and urge them to swiftly pass a Bay-friendly budget for next year.”

Maryland’s budget is comprised of three pieces of legislation, including:

• An operating budget (SB282), which funds year-to-year expenses like salaries and equipment;
• A capital budget (SB283), which is funded by bonds and used for longer-lasting things like buying property or repairing facilities; and
• The Budget Reconciliation and Finance Act (BRFA) (SB284), which makes changes to funding mandates and programs to balance past, current, and future budgets.

As of March 24, the operating budget and BRFA bills have passed the full Senate and gone on to the full House of Delegates by the House Appropriations Committee. The capital budget bill is on track to be passed by the Senate this week. Once both Senate and House budgets are passed, they will go to Governor Moore who has the constitutional authority to veto individual budget line items.

The final budget will fund critical agency operations and programs that support the environment and people, communities, and jobs that rely on it. Agencies that help protect the Chesapeake Bay, including the Departments of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, as well as the Maryland Energy Administration, require adequate operating and capital budgets to fulfill their duties to the Bay. These agency budgets only account for 1.5 percent of state spending and are especially sensitive to additional cuts.

Also included in these budgets are vital environmental programs such as the Bay Restoration Fund, 2010 Atlantic and Coastal Bays Trust Fund, and Program Open Space that protect clean water and inject money directly into local communities, businesses, and economies.

Over the past few months, CBF has testified, rallied allies, and demonstrated to legislators the importance of environmental agencies and programs that support a healthy Chesapeake Bay. Now, CBF is urging legislators to finalize a budget that avoids further environmental funding cuts and supports continued progress to clean the Bay. Environmental advocates who wish to do the same can learn more and contact their legislators here.