Governor's budget cuts deeper into water quality

The State's water quality and public health programs prevent and clean up water pollution as well as monitor and inform beach goers when the waters are unsafe for recreation. These essential programs are facing further cuts under this years budget shortfall. Yesterday, the Governor released her proposed all cuts budget and it included reductions of $200,000 in funding for the water quality program and capacity reductions in monitoring. In addition, the Environmental Health Program was severely cut by $500,000. These cuts, on top of deep cuts made earlier this year, compromise the state's ability to ensure that our beaches and waters are clean and that users are informed. This all cuts budget threatens many other core environmental protection programs too, including those that ensure clean drinking water and clean up toxic contamination. Surfrider Foundation strongly encourages the Governor to release a second budget and to restore funding to critical environmental programs.