Rhode Island Hates Me

by Floating Deer Head Thursday June 12, 2008

Yesterday the House Finance Committee cut $35 million dollars worth of farmland protection and land conservation bond proposals, squandering millions in potential federal money and leaving the future of Rhode Island’s natural resources in question. The committee then allocated emergency funds for a proposed sign on the Connecticut border to read: “Welcome to Rhode Island, and by Island we mean traffic Island.”

The bonds had been targeted for saving farmland and open space, cleaning up storm water and helping communities reduce the nitrogen their sewer plants discharge into Narragansett Bay.

This will be the first year since the program’s inception that Rhode Island has not funded the farmland protection program. The program is broke, so the removal of the bond issues essentially shuts it down. And without farms, what am I going to eat?

Not Enough Doe?
So let’s talk about the economics of this decision. The passage of these natural resource bond measures would’ve had no impact on the ’09 budget. Even without hoofs I can still count to zero. In fact, the open space money would’ve guaranteed federal open space funding, matched dollar-for-dollar. So why were the bond measures omitted?

Natural Resources as Economic Resources
Too often open space is seen as a burden rather than a boon to the economy. Open space should be seen as an effective long-term economic engine. Protecting open space, parks and farmland strengthens communities, attracts new businesses, and, best of all, avoids the costs associated with sprawl. The monetary benefit of open space is summed up nicely in a post on Natural News by Rupert Friday of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council: “Today, less than 7% of the state is in agricultural production. Yet agriculture contributes $100 million/year to the Rhode Island economy and unmeasured other values such as farmer’s markets, pick your own berries, fruits, pumpkins, corn mazes, and enhanced aesthetic quality for our communities.” Not to mention the value of clean air, cooler microclimates and clean water.

Sometimes we forget why tourists stream into Rhode Island. They don’t visit because of the new Appleby’s on the corner with the blacktop of the freshly painted lines. They visit because of the beauty that’s been preserved by the years of investment. It’s the beauty that tourists will spend billions of dollars to experience.

Isle of Roads
In other news, the committee did preserve a $85 million dollar transportation bond. A part of that bond is earmarked to pave over Roger Williams Park in phase one of the state’s No Strip Mall Left Behind program.

The Buck Stops Here
I guess you can’t blame the House Finance Committee leadership for panicking. I mean, if I had to face a $434 million dollar deficit, with no economic growth, foreclosures and rising unemployment I suppose I’d react like a deer in the headlights too.

Tell the House Finance Committee how you feel:

Steven M. Costantino Chairperson rep-costantino@rilin.state.ri.us

Kenneth Carter Vice Chairperson rep-carter@rilin.state.ri.us

Find a Nearby Rep House Committee on Finance

[where: 02910]

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