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For Immediate Release
May 11, 2005
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Voters to Decide
Environmental Bond Question May 17th
Harrisburg – Voters will have the opportunity May
17th to decide whether they want to approve
borrowing $625 million to fund government spending
on environmental initiatives, according to state
Senator Mary Jo White (R-21). All registered voters
are eligible to vote on this ballot question.
The ballot question will read as follows:
"Do you favor authorizing the Commonwealth to
borrow up to $625,000,000 for the maintenance and
protection of the environment, open space and
farmland preservation, watershed protection,
abandoned mine reclamation, acid mine drainage
remediation and other environmental initiatives?"
The ballot question is the result of legislation
recently enacted by the General Assembly and would
provide funding for an array of environmental
programs known as "Growing Greener." First launched
under former Governor Tom Ridge, Growing Greener is
a 13-year, $1.24 billion investment in environmental
and conservation programs. The program is currently
slated to receive approximately $88 million annually
through June 30, 2012. Senator White served as the
Senate's prime sponsor of both the Growing Greener I
legislation in 1999, as well as the Growing Greener
II expansion authorized in 2002.
If voters approve the bond question, legislators
and the governor will work out the limit on how much
the Commonwealth can borrow each year. Such future
legislation will also determine the county share of
funds. Senator White and many of her colleagues have
expressed their commitment to ensuring that a
sizable portion of bond proceeds are utilized to
fund county-established priorities.
CONTACT: Patrick Henderson (717) 787-9684
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