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Replenish the Land for Maine's Future Program: Conserve Special Places Before It’s Too Late
Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) is Maine’s most popular outdoor program—but now it is out of funds. This is because last session, partisan politics prevented any bond issues from coming before the voters, including for LMF. Voters overwhelmingly supported LMF bonds in 1987, 1999, and 2005, and citizens, towns and landowners from across Maine continue to approach LMF with critical conservation projects.
LMF cannot help until funds are renewed. Until then, we are faced with the subdivision and sale of working forests, loss of family farms, and sprawl that all threaten Maine people’s livelihood, way of life, and recreational opportunities. Without $25 million per year for LMF, Maine will continue to lose farms, forests, snowmobile trails, shoreline, and hunting grounds.
Land for Maine’s Future has conserved lands in every Maine county and includes mountain summits, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, forests, farms and shoreline. LMF always works with willing sellers and guarantees the lands are open to the public.
Updates on the Land for Maine's Future bond
(11/6/07) LMF Bond is approved by Maine voters!
(4/4/07) LMF Included in Bond Package – The Legislature approved $17 million in bond funding for a two-year period as part of a $295 million bond package. The LMF funding will appear on the November ballot as part of a $35.5 million bond question that also includes $5 million for a Riverfront Community Development Bond (also a high priority for NRCM), $7.5 million in capital improvements for parks and historic sites, and $3 million to support working waterfronts. Because the need for LMF funding has been estimated at $20 million to $25 million per year, NRCM worked hard as part of a broad coalition to build support for a larger amount of funding than what ultimately was provided. However, competition for bond funding was intense this year, and we are pleased that voters will have a chance this November to once again cast their ballots in support of continuation of this successful program that helps protect land across Maine.
Read the ballot question that will appear on the ballot on November 6th.
(3/27/07) LMF Public Hearing Held - There was a public hearing about the Land for Maine's Future funding held today at 1 PM at the State House.
(2/13/07) Initial Land Bond Bills Printed – The Legislature will consider five separate bills this year to provide funding for the Land for Maine’s Future Program. The first two of these bills have now been printed. Rep. Pat Flood (R-Winthrop) has introduced a bill (LD-357) that would authorize a bond for $40 million over two years. Rep. Hannah Pingree has introduced a bill (LD 746) that would send out to the voters for approval a bond for $75 million over three years.
(2/6/07) Bipartisan Support Builds for Land Bond -- Democratic and Republican lawmakers today announced their support for renewed funding for the Land for Maine’s Future program. In a press conference at the State House, Sen. Libby Mitchell (D-Kennebec) said that “every time Maine people get an opportunity to say ‘yes’ for the Land for Maine’s Future program, they do.” Sen. Karl Turner (R-Cumberland) said “we have been under funding this program.” Although Sen. Turner was uncertain what amount would be approved by the Legislature, he said “I’m on board… I am confident that there will be a substantial bond package, and LMF will be part of it.” Rep. Pat Flood (R-Winthrop) also spoke at the press event, explaining that Maine has spent its LMF money wisely in the past and that “LMF expenditures should rank high” this year as lawmakers review the more than 70 bills that have been introduced for bonds.
Maine voters will have a chance to vote for $17 million for the Land for Maine’s Future Program and $5 million for the Riverfront Community Development Bond as part of a package of funding that will appear as a single question on the November 6th ballot. The wording of the question will be as follows:
“Do you favor a $35,000,000 bond issue to invest in land conservation, water access, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing, farmland and working waterfront and to invest in state parks, historic sites and riverfront, community and farm infrastructure to be matched by at least $21,875,000 in private and public contributions?”