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Land for Tomorrow
North Carolina loses open space at the rate of over 100,000 acres each year. The state's population is roughly 8.5 million; over the next two decades, it is projected to increase to nearly 12 million residents, placing heavy development pressure on open space and natural landscapes.
The Land for Tomorrow coalition was launched in 2005 and is made up of well over 100 partners. The coalition is asking the state to increase its investment in water quality protection, land conservation, historic preservation, and environmentally sustainable job creation. The proposal is for the state to issue a general obligation bond to raise $200 million a year for five years to fund the protection of places that matter all over our state. For this vision to become real, the NC General Assembly must agree to place the proposal on the ballot, and it must receive the support of a majority of voters in that election.
In 2006 and 2007 bills were introduced to put a $1 billion bond on the ballot, and though large numbers of legislators signed on as co-sponsors, neither bill moved. In 2006, the General Assembly established a Land and Water Conservation Commission to make recommendations on how to pay for the land conservation initiatives; their report came out early in 2007
While the 2007 General Assembly did not pass the bond bill, they did provide $128 million over 2 years to land conservation through special indebtedness certificates ($100 million for the Parks and Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Funds, $20 million for public beach access and $8 million for the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.)
Latest News
June, 2008. House and Senate leaders are working to come to a final budget agreement for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The House proposed $50 million direct one-time appropriation for Land for Tomorrow and $4 million for the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. The Senate's budget proposed zero funding for these programs.
July 8, 2007. Victory! The House and Senate have passed a budget that includes $50 million in special indebtedness for Land for Tomorrow, and a $4 million one-time appropriation for the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.
Land and Water Conservation Commission
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