OPEN SPACE FUNDING RESTORED
$30 million has been restored to two very important Illinois open space conservation
programs, Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Fund (OSLAD) and the Natural
Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF). Kudos to all of you who joined us in the campaign to
restore full funding to these programs which are so critical to land preservation
in Illinois.
The Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Fund (OSLAD) and the Natural Areas
Acquisition Fund (NAAF) are supported by a tax on the sale of real estate. OSLAD offers
matching grants to help local governments and park districts protect open space, while
NAAF helps buy high-quality natural areas and supports the Illinois Nature Preserves
Commission and a statewide staff of natural heritage biologists.
In his initial budget address last February, Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed giving
these programs a holiday for one year! Money dedicated to the programs would be deposited
in the general revenue fund to help balance the state budget.
In response, the Illinois Environmental Council organized over 130 organizations,
including Friends of the Parks and the Chicago Park District into a coalition, Partners
for Parks and Wildlife, to show broad-based support for retaining OSLAD and NAAF funding.
The Coalition promoted calls and letters to state senators and representatives. And
in response, the General Assembly demonstrated long-term support for these programs
by protecting their dedicated funding source the Real Estate Transfer Tax and reaffirming
their belief that these programs should remain a spent priority separate from the
rest of the state budget.
Please write or call your state senators and representatives to thank them for their
dedication to land conservation in Illinois, and to encourage their continued support
on open space issues. To find contact information, go to http://www.elections.state.il.us/DLS/Pages/DLSaddressCrit.asp.
Thank you one and all for your continued support of Illinois open space. Citizen advocacy
does make a difference!
