Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing today centered around the Nature for All Fund.
This fund would take a small percentage of the money from taxes on the sale of sporting goods and put it towards land and water protection in the state. If passed, the initiative could generate $100,000 million annual to fund nature conservation and restoration efforts, all without adding new taxes. The initiative would also created a 15-member oversight board that would oversee the allocation of funds.
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Katharine Lange with the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) explained that similar laws have passed in other states, so she feels this is a no-brainer.
“Residents across the state deserve equal access to outdoor green spaces. This fund will help us create and steward more of those spaces across the state,” Lange said. “Massachusetts is a leader in outdoor recreation. We are a leader in protecting nature, but to keep being a leader, we need new ideas and new funding to make that happen.”
A coalition of environmental and conservation groups, including CLF, has collected more than 100,000 signatures as a back-up plan. If the bill doesn't pass, they hope to get the fund on the ballot in November.
“Our hope would be that the Legislature passes this bill.” Mass Audubon CEO and President David O'Neill said in December. “But if they don't, we'll go to the ballot and we'll win there.”
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.