Post by overthecap on Mar 9, 2014 17:46:29 GMT -5
No Sifa Coming ?
We will see.
GL
Changing a tax earmarked by voters "is a violation of a moral contract with the people of Suffolk County that the government serves," said Richard Amper, executive director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, Sunday. "If politicians want to change it, they have to get the public's permission. Otherwise, what little faith people have in government is degraded even more."
The Pine Barrens Society and Long Island Environmental Voters Forum filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Riverhead against the county, Bellone and the legislature.
Bellone, who has made water quality a top priority of his administration's agenda this year, is negotiating with environmental groups to guarantee that the money is repaid. County officials said a plan to eventually pay money back into the fund could be reached as soon as Monday.
"We agree with their concerns and think they're valid," said Justin Meyers, a spokesman for Bellone. He said the county is committed to paying back the money in future budget years, and there will be no practical impact to drinking water programs once that money is repaid.
This isn't the first time drinking water money has been diverted for purposes other those for which voters signed up, environmentalists said. Under former County Executive Steve Levy, Suffolk moved $20 million from the Drinking Water Protection Program in 2011 to balance its budget. A legal challenge to that transfer is pending in the Appellate Court.
The sales tax money has also been used to pay for county staff positions, instead of going to new clean water projects, according to Bob Deluca, president of the environmental organization Group for the East End.
We will see.
GL
Changing a tax earmarked by voters "is a violation of a moral contract with the people of Suffolk County that the government serves," said Richard Amper, executive director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, Sunday. "If politicians want to change it, they have to get the public's permission. Otherwise, what little faith people have in government is degraded even more."
The Pine Barrens Society and Long Island Environmental Voters Forum filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in Riverhead against the county, Bellone and the legislature.
Bellone, who has made water quality a top priority of his administration's agenda this year, is negotiating with environmental groups to guarantee that the money is repaid. County officials said a plan to eventually pay money back into the fund could be reached as soon as Monday.
"We agree with their concerns and think they're valid," said Justin Meyers, a spokesman for Bellone. He said the county is committed to paying back the money in future budget years, and there will be no practical impact to drinking water programs once that money is repaid.
This isn't the first time drinking water money has been diverted for purposes other those for which voters signed up, environmentalists said. Under former County Executive Steve Levy, Suffolk moved $20 million from the Drinking Water Protection Program in 2011 to balance its budget. A legal challenge to that transfer is pending in the Appellate Court.
The sales tax money has also been used to pay for county staff positions, instead of going to new clean water projects, according to Bob Deluca, president of the environmental organization Group for the East End.
