Support AB1590 and funding for environmental projects
Posted April 26, 2005 / Updated April 26, 2005

• What's happening
• Why this is important
• What you can do   
   


The Santa Clara Valley Water District not only serves as the County's water utility, it also provides flood protection services and environmental services for the region. Due to a technical flaw in a deal designed to help fix the state budget, the District stands to lose $51 million in revenue, which threatens the agency's ability to continue these services.

Assemblymembers Sally Lieber and Rebecca Cohn have introduced a bill that will rectify this problem. Please join us in support of AB 1590 to ensure necessary funding for flood control and watershed protections in Santa Clara County.

What's happening   
As part of Governor Schwarzenegger's deal with local governments to help make up the state's budget crisis, the funding structure for special districts changed. Unfortunately, a technical flaw in the legislation meant that some dual-purpose agencies are being penalized.

Locally, the Santa Clara Valley Water District has lost $51 million in revenue simply because it provides both water utility and flood protection services -3.5 times more than it would have lost if the District maintained separate water utility and flood protection entities.

Why this is important   
This lost revenue is significant: the Water District provides crucial support for local environmental projects including flood protection, watershed restoration, and pollution prevention efforts. CGF supports AB 1590, which we believe will correct this problem by requiring that dual-purpose agencies such as the Water District are asked to take the same funding cuts as single-purpose agencies. Passage of this legislation is important in helping the District continue to provide leadership on environmental protection.

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What you can do

1. Write in support of AB 1590.

Please write to your Assembly representative (find your rep here) as well as to bill authors Assemblymembers Sally Lieber and Rebecca Cohn, in support of AB 1590 (Lieber and Cohn).

Write to:
Your Assembly Representative
The Hon. Sally Lieber (Fax 408-277-2084)
The Hon. Rebecca Cohn (Fax 408-282-8927)
State Capitol Building
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 95814
Assemblywoman.Lieber@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember.Cohn@assembly.ca.gov


Please send copies of your correspondence to our office (fax 650-968-8431) to help us track the efficacy of our efforts.

As always, mailed or faxed letters are best, but emails are also helpful.

Please let the Assembly hear from you - your voice does make a difference!

2. Learn more...

Read CGF's April 2005 letter on this issue.

Stay on top of the latest with this and other local environmental issues -- sign up to receive Committee for Green Foothills action alerts by email.

3. Support Committee for Green Foothills.

Become a CGF member or make a donation.

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