NEVADA CITY , CA — Despite tight budget times, the Governor of California has submitted a proposed budget that includes full funding for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. “Though the Sierra Nevada Conservancy budget funding proposal doesn’t impact the state’s overall budget situation, it was still vulnerable to being cut just to be consistent with the cuts being suffered by other departments,” notes Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, CEO of The Sierra Fund. “We are glad that the Governor supported full funding for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, now in only its third year of operation.”
All of the funds for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy are drawn from either dedicated bond funding or from dedicated special revenues, not from the state’s badly overdrawn general fund.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy budget proposal includes $4.7 million for staff and program, and another $17 million for grant programs from “Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006” (Proposition 84) funds. Their total allocation of $21.7 million is a slight increase over the 2007/08 budget approved last year.
Organizations or individuals wanting to thank the Governor for his proposed budget should write a letter of support, and send a copy of it to your Senator and Assemblymember to urge their vote for it as well. A sample letter follows. To find the name of your legislator go to this webpage and enter your address and zip code: http://192.234.213.69/smapsearch/framepage.asp
Honorable Governor Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
I am writing on behalf of The Sierra Fund to thank you for your budget proposal for funding the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. As you know, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy budget proposal includes $4.7 million for staff and program, and another $17 million for grant programs from “Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006” (Proposition 84) funds. Their total allocation of $21.7 million is a slight increase over the 2007/08 budget approved last year.
The Sierra Fund is committed to increasing public and private investment in protecting and restoring the natural resources and historic communities of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is an important new partner in this mission.
It is vital that the Conservancy be given the funding needed to begin to take on their truly mammoth task. Your budget gives them what they need to be successful.
Thank you for your strong support for protecting our beautiful mountain range, the Sierra Nevada. Feel free to call if you have any questions about our work or this issue.
For the Sierra,
Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin
CEO, The Sierra Fund
409 Spring Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-8454 x11
cc: your Senator and Assemblymember
