On July 2, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed announced the states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey have fallen over $1.1 million short in their funding obligations to the Delaware River Basin Commission in their FY 2020 budgets.

The Coalition issued this statement on the shortfalls--

“Collectively, the states’ funding shortfall for fiscal year 2020 totals $1,142,500, yet the states are relying on the Commission to ensure the future of the Delaware River. This shortchanging of the DRBC impacts the commission’s ability to hire staff, conduct monitoring, and advance vital research that provides the scientific basis for water quality protections and flow management.

“We’re disappointed and frustrated that after placing Pennsylvania’s full member contribution to the DRBC in his budget – the sum of $893,000 – and just weeks after pledging alongside the Governors of New Jersey and Delaware to support the Commission, Governor Wolf of Pennsylvania signed into law a fiscal year 2020 budget that provides less than 25 percent of the Commonwealth’s agreed upon contribution to the DRBC.

“This is all the more bewildering, considering that more than 43 percent of Pennsylvanians reside in the Basin, and that the Commonwealth comprises more than 50 percent of the Basin’s land area.

“In contrast, Delaware’s budget signed by Governor Carney last week includes the First State’s full ‘fair share’ contribution to the DRBC, as it consistently has since 2012.

"Since 1996, the federal government has failed to support its share of the Commission’s operating funds ($715,000 per year or 20 percent of annual member contributions) except for partial contributions during two DRBC fiscal years – 2009 and 2010.

“Year after year, the four basin states have also fallen short in funding the DRBC, and fiscal year 2020 is unfortunately no exception.

“In the face of new water quality and flow management challenges associated with changes in our climate, now is the time to invest in the DRBC and secure our water resources for generations to come. All four basin states and the federal government must contribute their agreed upon funding in order to support the Commission’s clean water programs, research, and environmental protections.”

Click Here for more information on the funding shortfalls.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed website.

NewsClips:

Caruso: What PA’s Green Lawmakers, Environmentalists Think Of This Year’s Budget

Sen. Dinniman: New State Budget Is Bad For The Environment

Op-Ed: PA Needs To Step Up For The Environment

Op-Ed: Step Up Support Of Hard-To-Clean Rivers, Streams In PA

Op-Ed: PA Must Step Up Support Of Initiative To Cleanup Its Rivers & Streams

Related Articles This Week:

CBF: State Needs To Step Up Support For Those Working Hard To Cleanup PA's Rivers And Streams

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CBF: PA Elected Leaders Failed To Show The Will, Leadership To Restore Pennsylvania's Rivers And Streams

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Major Environmental Priorities Not Addressed In FY 2019-20 State Budget, Shell Game Continues

[Posted: July 2, 2019]

7/8/2019