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Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, urging the Governor and the General Assembly to resolve their differences and enact legislation on or before March 17, 2005 so that a referendum may be placed upon the primary ballot regarding the issuance of debt to support or enhance the Growing Greener fund; and further, urging the Governor and the General Assembly to negotiate a compromise between their respective positions and to enact significant enhancements to the existing Growing Greener.
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WHEREAS, in 2000, under the leadership of Governor Tom Ridge, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania created a state fund known as "Growing Greener" for the purpose of funding conservation and environmental protection measures, especially those that would have significant impact on economic development; and
WHEREAS, projects within Allegheny County such as Nine Mile Run have received substantial amounts of funding from Growing Greener; and
WHEREAS, Growing Greener has a special significance to Allegheny County because of the three major rivers which traverse the County and the number of properties in need of environmental or reclamation clean-up measures; and
WHEREAS, Governor Rendell has proposed an $800 million bond-funded enhancement to the existing Growing Greener program that would have a dramatic effect on both the environment and economic development projects within Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, the Republican Caucus of the State House of Representatives, through its leadership, has offered a competing proposal that would also include an $800 million bond, but which would rely upon different funding measures than that proposed in the bill submitted by the Rendell Administration; and
WHEREAS, either proposal will require a statewide referendum authorizing the issuance of debt; and
WHEREAS, the State Senate must act upon the pending bills, passing legislation by March 17, 2005 in order for there to be a referendum on the ballot during this year's primary election; and
WHEREAS, Democrats and Republicans in leaderships positions and other stakeholders are currently negotiating compromise legislation; and
WHEREAS, it is in the strong interest of Allegheny County to have the legislative branch of the Commonwealth enact new legislation which would ensure the existence or enhancement of the Growing Greener fund; and
WHEREAS, if the General Assembly fails to enact such a bond referendum, any chance to incorporate a bond-financed enhancement to Growing Greener will have been effectively eliminated, which may also preclude any legislative enhancements to the existing Growing Greener fund;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Council of Allegheny County urges the Governor and the General Assembly to resolve their differences and enact legislation on or before March 17, 2005 so that a referendum may be placed upon the primary ballot regarding the issuance of debt to support or enhance the Growing Greener fund; and Council further urges the Governor and the General Assembly to negotiate a compromise between their existing respective positions and to enact significant enhancements to the existing Growing Greener program.
SECTION 2.
The Council of Allegheny County further resolves that this Resolution be provided to the Governor, members of the Allegheny County Delegation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate, and to the leadership in both houses as an expression of this County's desire to see action on the Growing Greener proposals.
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Resolution which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Resolution is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.