The Land for Maine’s Future program is a critical, statewide land conservation program that has helped protect thousands of acres in Maine, including projects right here in Scarborough.
Broadturn Farm, Fuller Farm, Scarborough Beach State Park, the Higgins Beach parking lot, and improvements at Pine Point Pier were all funded, in part, with LMF funds. All of these projects benefit the public, and our economy, in countless ways.
Unfortunately, Gov. LePage has been playing politics with LMF funds for several months. He is holding up funding for more than 30 conservation projects in Maine already approved for LMF funding.
Many of these projects are made possible by local land trusts, just like us, that have worked very hard for many months, or even many years, on very complex land deals. Holding up approved funding threatens the completion of important projects and adds unnecessarily to their cost.
When our legislators return to Augusta in January, I urge state Sen. Amy Volk, Rep. Karen Vachon, and Rep. Heather Sirocki to do all they can to free these voter-approved LMF funds. It’s time to stop playing politics with land conservation in Maine. Please join me in asking our representatives to support LR 2132, and to override a likely veto of LD 1454.
These bills are needed to free LMF funds, to preserve the Maine we all cherish.
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