Finally, the results from last week’s election are in and the news is very good for environmentalists. Nation wide, voters approved a record 8.4 billion dollars for conservation funding. There were 124 measures up for vote involving conservation and 88 of these passed. This totalled $8,400,116,140 dollars. Most impressive was the Minnesota sales tax increase that will generate 5.5 billion dollars for conservation over the next 25 years in that state. Florida also voted very favorably to allow land under conservation easement to now be tax free. The 2008 tally beat previous records from 2006 when 6.7 billion was passed and 1998 when 5.8 billion was approved.
Locally, JoDaviess County passed two referendums making it less attractive for CAFO’s (Contained Animal Feeding Operations) to move into the county.
In these tough economic times it is refreshing to see that conservation continues to trend towards priority. Congratulations everybody!
Above poster by ISO50
