California's Budget Undercuts Climate Change Policy

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cultivates the image of a climate change warrior. But the state budget he signed this week portrays very different priorities.

1 minute read

July 30, 2009, 2:00 PM PDT

By Paul Shigley


The state spending plan approved by lawmakers eliminates state funding for transit operations and shifts $2 billion away from urban redevelopment. The governor, though, went further by eliminating all but $1,000 of funding for the state's biggest anti-sprawl program.

You would think that public officials worried about climate change would want to limit sprawl and its correlated traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. But considering the governor's budget-slashing, the question now is whether the program, which provides tax breaks to agricultural landowners who do not develop their property, will survive at all.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 in California Planning & Development Report

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