CCR2010134-LWCF
COMMON COUNCIL – CITY OF MUSKEGO
RESOLUTION #134-2010
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT CONSISTENT FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR THE LAND & WATER CONSERVATION FUND (LWCF)
WHEREAS the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established by
Congress in 1965 to preserve, develop and assure accessibility to quality outdoor
recreation resources “to strengthen the health and vitality of the citizens of the United
States;” and
WHEREAS, the LWCF is principally funded by revenue received from off-shore energy
extraction, and is authorized to receive $900 million annually through the annual
appropriations process; and
WHEREAS the LWCF funds a federal land acquisition program and provides matching
grants to states and localities for capital projects through the State Assistance program;
and
WHEREAS, investments from the LWCF State Assistance program support the creation
of public parks in rural and urban communities throughout America, protect green space
and local water supplies, guarantee outdoor recreation opportunities, spur economic
development, create jobs and significantly aid national efforts to promote health,
connect youth to nature and the outdoors, combat childhood obesity and protect the
environment; and
WHEREAS in the original authorizing legislation, Congress recognized the important
role of state and local parks in achieving its intended purpose by requiring the allocation
of 60% of LWCF annual funding to the State Assistance program and 40% to the
federal program; and
WHEREAS the language protecting the State Assistance program was removed in the
mid 1970s resulting in a disproportional amount (84%) of LWCF funding going to the
federal side of the program over the past 25 years; and
WHEREAS no language exists to protect the State Assistance funding allocations, and
Congress appropriated a total of approximately $304 million to LWCF in FY 2009 but
allocated only $19 million (6%) to the State Assistance program, and in FY 2010
appropriated a total of approximately $479 million to LWCF with a mere $40 million (8%)
going to the State Assistance program; and
WHEREAS Wisconsin received only $495,242 in FY2009 and $679,682 in FY2010;
WHEREAS the disproportional allocation of LWCF funding between the two programs
has severely limited state and local governments in their capacity to develop parks and
open spaces and protect green space and local water supplies in light of rapidly
increasing populations; and
Reso. #134-2010 Page 2
WHEREAS, LWCF provides one-time funding for state and local capital projects and
state and local governments equally match the federal dollars, then assume all costs of
management and maintenance; and
WHEREAS the LWCF State Assistance program has invested more than $74,000,000
in Wisconsin since 1965 and has funded projects such as the development of Veterans
Memorial Park in Muskego; and
WHEREAS the state of Wisconsin has $50,000,000 in unmet need for LWCF State
Assistance projects, and Muskego currently has a number of projects that would qualify
for LWCF State Assistance funding such as the development of Park Arthur and the
purchase of environmentally sensitive lands; and
WHEREAS requiring 40% of LWCF funds to be annually allocated to the State
Assistance program would not increase the national debt, but would ensure a more
balanced allocation of resources between federal land acquisition and state and local
community conservation efforts, as intended by the authorizing legislation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Muskego Common Council calls on
Congress to implement legislation specifying an annual allocation of at least 40% of
LWCF funds to the State Assistance program.
th
DATED THIS 14 DAY OF DECEMBER 2010.
SPONSORED BY:
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Ald. Tracy Snead
Ald. Noah Fiedler
Ald. Keith Werner
This is to certify that this is a true and accurate copy of Resolution #134-2010 which
was adopted by the Common Council of the City of Muskego.
____________________________
Clerk-Treasurer
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