title
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.
body
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...
Click here for full text