JANUARY 26, 2006 STATEMENT

OF

JOHNNY FINCH, PRESIDENT

VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION FOR PARKS

TO THE

HOUSE APPROPRIATION SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

ON

DELEGATE MORGAN’S AMENDMENT (C359, #4h)

TO THE DCR BUDGET FOR THE

VIRGINIA LAND CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MR. VAN LENTEN:

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOHNNY FINCH AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE VIRGINIA ASSSOCITION FOR PARKS (VAFP).

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO EXPRESS TO YOU VAFP’S TOTAL AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT.

AS YOU KNOW, THE VIRGINIA LAND CONSERVATION FOUNDATION PROVIDES MATCHING GRANTS TO NONPROFIT LAND TRUSTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CONSERVE CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF SPECIAL LAND, INCLUDING OPEN SPACES AND PARKS.

THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO AUTHORIZED TO FUND THE ACQUISITION OF PUBLIC LANDS. ALTHOUGH OCCASIONAL FUNDING HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, VIRGINIA HAS NEVER PROVIDED AN ADEQUATE REVENUE STREAM FOR NATURAL RESOURCE AGENCIES TO MEET AN EVER INCREASING POPULATION’S NEEDS FOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

WHEN WILLING LANDOWNERS DECIDE TO SELL LAND THAT IS IDEAL FOR A WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, STATE FOREST, NATURAL AREA PRESERVE, OR STATE PARK, THE COMMONWEALTH OFTEN FINDS ITSELF IN A POSITION OF BEING UNABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY,

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE AREAS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO BE PROTECTED THAN THERE ARE FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MOST RECENT GRANT ROUND, THE FOUNDATION RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FOR THREE TIMES THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS AVAILABLE TO IT.

THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $2.5 MILLION FOR THE FOUNDATION. THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT WOULD ADD $10 MILLION. LAST YEAR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALLOCATED $12.5 MILLION TO THE FOUNDATION. THUS, APPROPRIATING LESS THAN THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE A BACKWARD STEP.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION FOR PARK’S SUPPORT FOR THE SUBJECT AMENDMENT.