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Fellow birders, please vote tomorrow to conserve additional bird
and wildlife habitat for Virginia. With low turnout expected,
every vote is crucial, so forward this to friends and family.
On Tuesday, November 5th, Virginians supporting state parks
and land conservation will have an opportunity that has occurred
only four times in Virginia history. Citizens will have the chance
to cast their vote on the 2002 Virginia State Parks
and Natural Areas Bond.
A similar bond referendum received strong voter approval
in 1992. However, that was a presidential election year.
Voter turnout is expected to be much, lower this year.
That means that EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT!! Please forward
this message to as many friends, family members, and
colleagues as you can. We owe it to our children and
grandchildren to protect our land, water and wildlife
for the future.
This year's Parks and Natural Areas Bond referendum
will provide $119 million for these important resources.
Here's how the land conservation portion of the money
will be spent if the referendum passes:
* To create 10 new natural area preserves and expand
eight existing preserves that safeguard sensitive natural
habitat
* To buy land for three new state parks and additional
land for 11 existing parks.
In total, over $36 million will be allocated to land
conservation. This would be the most significant step
the Commonwealth has taken towards meeting its statewide
and Chesapeake Bay land conservation goals. Since natural
areas, parks, and green space help maintain water quality,
they are vital to the health of our streams, rivers
and the Chesapeake Bay.
The remainder of the bond issue funds will pay for
water quality improvements and facility
upgrades at nearly all of Virginia's 34 state parks.
It is important to Virginia's economy to have well-maintained
parks and recreational facilities. Virginia's state
parks pump more than $140 million dollars into our
economy each year, helping make tourism the state's
second largest industry. Since interest rates are very
low, and the bonds would be paid back over a period
of years, the impact on the state budget will be very
small. This impact has already been factored into the
existing budget.
On November 5th, please vote.
The following is the language as it will appear on
the November 5 ballot:
Question #2: Parks and Recreational Facilities:
Shall Chapters 854 and 884, Acts of the General Assembly
of 2002, authorizing the issuance of general obligation
bonds of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the maximum
amount of $119,040,000 pursuant to Article X, Section
9(b) of the Constitution of Virginia for capital projects
for parks and recreational facilities, take effect?
Additional information about the bonds (including a
comprehensive list of proposed projects) can be found
at:
http://actionnetwork.org/ct/cdq6Mr71EcDq/
To find out where you vote go to www://www.sbe.state.va.us/
and click on
Election Information, and then click on Where
do I Vote. Enter your residential information and your
precinct location will be provided.
Thank you for supporting the Parks and Natural Areas
General Obligation Bond Referendum.
Eileen Rowan, Coordinator
Virginia Important Bird Areas Program
Audubon Virginia
P.O. Box 1089
Ashland, VA 23005
804/752-5850, 752-5882 fax, 339-3216 cell
email: erowan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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