This week the Governor cut $98 million from the budget in what is called 9C cuts.

The cuts included $500,000 to the Blue Hills Trailside Museum and $100,000 to the Blue Hill Observatory… as well as cuts of $9 million for all environmental agencies.

That means that nearly 10% of the cuts were to environmental agencies that protect our water, forests, air – and parks!

Here’s a Globe article on the cuts.  On Twitter, look for #FY17EnviroCuts.

Below is a statement from our partners at the Environmental League of Massachusetts, George Bachrach, President & Erica Mattison, Legislative Director.

The Governor’s 9C budget cuts disproportionately devastate agencies protecting our environment and public health.  The cuts will have a negative impact on the state’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities, both environmentally and economically.  Our future growth requires clean water and the safe clean-up of contaminated sites, particularly in our Gateway Cities.  Our public health requires clean air to slow the growth of childhood asthma.  And working families who cannot ‘jet away’ for exotic vacations need our nearby parks and recreation areas.  The $9 million worth of budget cuts to environmental programs may seem small, but represents almost 10% of the Governor’s $ 98 million of 9C cuts.   This comes on top of a 30% reduction in state spending on environmental protection since 2008.  State agencies such as DEP and DCR are on the verge of dysfunction.  State spending on environmental agencies in the aggregate represents only  .5%, half of one percent of the overall state budget, an infinitesimal number.  With these cuts we continue to move in the wrong direction.

Photo: Rita Stuopis of Canton