Afforestation
Meadow Installation and Management
Wetland Restoration
Invasive Plant Management Japanese honeysuckle Multiflora rose Mile-a-minute Autumn olive
Deer and Goose Management
Wildlife Enhancement Kestrels Wood Ducks
Volunteer Opportunities Tree Plantings Nest Box Maintenance and Monitoring Trail Stewards
Local Conservation Finance Options in Pennsylvania Tom Gilbert, Senior Conservation Finance Director MAY 2015
TPL s Conservation Finance Program 1. Think tank for financing conservation Leading source of research, education and policy information 2. Field services/consulting Provide technical assistance to state and local governments: $35B created, 450 ballot measures, 82% success rate Support for lobbying and ballot measure campaigns through TPL s affiliate, The Conservation Campaign
Pennsylvania Local Funding Options Annual Appropriations- Counties and Municipalities. Bonds- electoral or non-electoral, can fund acquisition of land for parks, as well as development of parks and recreation. Counties & Municipalities. 47 measures, 91% passed Act 115 EIT- increase beyond 1% with voter approval to acquire lands or interests in lands for open space, including parks and recreation. Municipalities only. 79 measures, 72% passed Property-tax- increase beyond limits with voter approval to acquire lands or interests in lands for open space, including parks and recreation. Municipalities only. 13 measures, 85% passed Up to 25% of EIT or property-tax to develop, improve or maintain
Referring Act 115 Measures to the Ballot First, the governing body must pass an ordinance to have the question placed on the ballot. The ordinance is then filed with the county board of elections at least 13 Tuesdays before the next primary or general election. The question for approval of a dedicated tax must be phrased in the following words: Do you favor the imposition of a [describe the tax in mileage or rate] by [local government unit] to be used to [purpose]?
Pennsylvania Local Ballot Measures (1998 2013) 99 different counties or municipalities passed 105 conservation finance ballot measures between 1998 and 2013. A total of almost $950 million was raised for land conservation through these measures. Passage rate for ballot measures 1998-2013 PA: 80% (105 of 132) US: 76%
Successful County Bond Measures Successful County Conservation Bond Measures Jurisdiction Name Date Finance Mechanism Total Funds Approved Status % Yes Chester County 11/7/1989 Bond $50,000,000 Pass 80% Bucks County 11/8/1994 Bond $3,500,000 Pass 67% Monroe County 5/19/1998 Bond $25,000,000 Pass 52% Lehigh County 5/21/2002 Bond $30,000,000 Pass 71% Northampton County 11/5/2002 Bond $37,000,000 Pass 65% Montgomery County 11/4/2003 Bond $150,000,000 Pass 78% Pike County 11/8/2005 Bond $10,000,000 Pass 67% Bucks County 11/6/2007 Bond $87,000,000 Pass 74% Adams County 11/4/2008 Bond $10,000,000 Pass 75% $402,500,000
LandVote Ballot Measures 1998-2013
State and local ballot measures 2010-2014 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 49 Measures 24 Measures 68 Measures 20 Measures 50 Measures 41 Measures Passed (84%) 14 Measures Passed (58%) 53 Measures Passed (78%) 15 Measures Passed (75%) 35 Measures Passed (70%) $2.2 billion Created $.3 billion Created $.8 billion Created $.3 billion Created $13.2 billion Created
Nov. 2014 Election Results- Pennsylvania $3.5 million bond measure, Patton Twp., Centre County- approved with 64% support.25 EIT increase, Williams Twp., Northampton County- lost by 14 votes!
Critical Steps for a Successful Ballot Measure Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Feasibility Research Public Opinion Survey Program Recommendations Ballot Language Campaign
Sand Hills: Earned Income Tax Estimated Revenue and Cost of Additional EIT Township EIT Annual Increase Revenue * Cost /Year/ Average HH Income** Conewago 0.05% $39,000 $42.42 0.10% $78,000 $84.84 Derry 0.05% $423,834 $30.32 0.10% $847,668 $60.64 Londonderry 0.05% $45,000 $33.37 *Based on 2011 EIT Revenue 0.10% $90,000 $66.74 Med. HH Income Conewago- $84,844 Derry- $60,635 Londonderry $66,742
Voter Support for Conservation Funds In May 2005, voters in Dauphin County supported the passage of the statewide Growing Greener II Bond question, authorizing $625 million of which almost $300 million was to preserve open space, farmland and watersheds. Sand Hills Growing Greener II Bond Results Municipality County %Yes %No Conewago Towhsnip Dauphin 55% 45% Derry Township Dauphin 54% 46% Londonderry Township Dauphin 45% 55% The amendment passed with 56 percent support in Dauphin County. It passed statewide with 61 percent support. In May 2005 voters in Derry Township rejected a.1% EIT with 44 percent support
Adams County (2008): Poll Results 1. Strong support for a $10 million bond issue exists. Initially, voters favor it by a margin of 58% to 28%. When the price of $17.32 per year for the owner of a $200,000 house is introduced, voters continue to favor the bond by a margin of 52% to 40%. 2. Voters are more favorable to the bond issue with an annual public audit. Secondarily, they like that only land from willing sellers will be purchased. 3. Protecting water sources is also very important to these voters, followed by protecting wildlife habitat and farmland. 4. The most persuasive argument in support of the bond issue is the responsibility to our children and grandchildren.
Adams County: Ballot Language Adams County Water and Land Protection Referendum Shall Adams County incur debt in sum not to exceed ten million dollars for the purposes of financing land conservation for the protection of drinking water sources, water quality of streams, wildlife habitat, farmland, open space and recreation lands for future generations be authorized to be incurred as debt approved by the electors, with lands preserved in cooperation with willing sellers, and an annual independent audit of how funds are spent? YES 75%
Adams County Campaign Strong campaign committee, raised funds Professional direct mail program Earned media (press, editorials, letters) Endorsements (Farm Bureau, Garden Clubs, etc.) Volunteers/info at polling places
Conservation Finance Services Available from TPL Feasibility Research Public Opinion Surveys Program Recommendations Ballot Language Campaign Assistance Campaign Finance Law Voter Education
Trust for Public Land: Tom Gilbert, Senior Conservation Finance Director Tom.Gilbert@tpl.org ~ (267) 261-7325 Natural Lands Trust: Dulcie Flaharty, Vice President, Community Partnerships dflaharty@natlands.org ~ 610-353-5587 ext 218 Diane Rosencrance, RLA, Director of Landscape Planning drosencrance@natlands.org ~ 610-353-5587 ext 211