By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff
PROVIDENCE — It’s an open-space
bond without funding for open space. On June 12, House leadership rebuffed
efforts to restore $3 million to buy open land as part of the $53 million Clean
Water, Open Space and Healthy Communities bond referendum.
“(Open space) is the foundation
of our outdoor recreation economy," a dejected Rupert Friday, director of
the Rhode Island Land Trust Council, said after the vote.
Despite the public’s strong
support to fund open-space purchases, the House rejected an amendment to restore
the money by a 48-24 vote. It’s the first time since 1985 that voters won’t
have an opportunity to approve state funds for open-space protection.
“I don’t believe we should be borrowing any more at this particular time,” Rep. Raymond Gallison, D-Bristol, said. Gallison opposed the measure even though his district is currently asking the state for $580,000 to buy open space. He said the remaining $1 million in state money from the 2012 referendum will be sufficient to fund open-space purchases for two years.
The call to restore the money
received support from several Republicans.
“We just gave $45 million to (pay
for) a parking garage that’s going to be empty. I think we can give $3 million
to open spaces,” Rep. Patricia Morgan, R-West Warwick, said.
“God’s not making any more of
this stuff. So let’s preserve it,” said Rep. Michael Chippendale, R-Foster, who
noted that these funds often attract two to three times the amount in matching
dollars.
“We’re losing open spaces
rapidly; we should take advantage of these opportunities to allow the people to
decide these things,” Rep. Brian Newberry, R-North Smithfield, said.
Since 2004, about 70 percent of
voters have approved funds for open-space protection. In 2012, voters approved
$20 million for farmland, parks and bay restoration.
If approved by voters in
November, the $53 million Clean Water, Open Space and Healthy Communities bond
funds:
- $5 million for brownfield remediation and economic development.
- $3 million for flood prevention.
- $3 million for farmland protection.
- $4 million for local recreation grants.
- $15 million for improvement to Roger Williams Park Zoo.
- $3 million to Roger Williams Park.
- $20 million to the Clean Water Finance Agency.