[Durham INC] Fwd:Matching Grants Program in Peril

[Will Wilson]

INCers,

Once again, please help argue to keep the matching grants program 
administered by the Durham Open Space and Trails commission. Over its 
20+ years its helped support playground equipment, open space 
acquisition, trails, community gardens, etc.

Please pass this on to your community listservs, and just do what Ellen 
asks!

Thanks,
Will Wilson


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Matching Grants Program in Peril
Date: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 09:22:25 -0400
From: Ellen Reckhow <ereckhow at gmail.com>

Two more things. The response needs to be fast….much of the budget will 
be tied down this week so emails to commissioners at 
commissioners at dconc.gov should be sent in the next few days if possible.



Also, tying support for the open space and the matching grant program to 
our strategic plan would be a good idea. The County Strategic Plan has 5 
goals – one of them is Environmental Stewardship. Objectives under that 
goal include: improve water quality, change behaviors to achieve 
environmental quality, protect open space and preserve rural character, 
increase energy efficiency. 
http://strategicplan.dconc.gov/sample/goal.aspx?id=3



Best, Ellen






On Saturday, June 7, 2014, Ellen Reckhow <ereckhow at gmail.com> wrote:

One correction – the Matching Grant Program was funded at $77,175 last 
year. We should argue for full restoration of the funding.



Ellen Reckhow
Durham County Board of Commissioners
11 Pine Top Place
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-3883
(919) 383-3833 (FAX)
www.dconc.gov
  <http://www.ellenreckhow.org/> www.ellenreckhow.org



From: Ellen Reckhow [mailto:ereckhow at gmail.com 
<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','ereckhow at gmail.com');> ]
Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2014 6:09 PM

All,

The County Commissioners asked the County Manager to look at ways to 
reduce the size of the tax rate increase.

I learned today that he is proposing to reduce the tax rate increase 
mainly by making revenue adjustments. There are a few expenditure cuts.

Two of them are zeroing out the matching grants program (which had 
already been reduced in the proposed budget for this year from $75,000 
to $60,000) and reducing the funds for open space acquisition from 
$500,000 to $400,000.

There is a budget public hearing on Monday night (June 9) at 7 PM.

The matching grants program was started in 1991 and over 70 open space 
and recreation projects have been funded. I have attached a list of the 
projects through 2012. These projects have greatly enhanced recreational 
opportunities for the citizens of Durham County over the past two decades.

While we had fewer applications this past year, it does not mean that 
the program should be ended.



Ellen





Ellen Reckhow
Durham County Board of Commissioners
11 Pine Top Place
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-3883
(919) 383-3833 (FAX)
www.dconc.gov
  <http://www.ellenreckhow.org/> www.ellenreckhow.org






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