
By Elliott Francis
Maryland's fiscal year 2011 budget contains a number of measures designed to reverse a $2 billion budget gap. Funding for the Chesapeake Bay is not among them.
The $13.2 billion operating budget includes a $20 million trust fund for Chesapeake Bay restoration.
That's a good number for Kim Coble, Environmentalist and executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
"We are very pleased," says Coble.
One year ago O'Malley requested $25 million for the Chesapeake and Atlantic coastal bay trust fund. The general assembly cut that request to $10 million last spring and some observers say another similar cut might be considered for this latest request. Coble is optimistic.
"That's not going to be the case this year because there is so much pressure from the federal government to improve the environment," he says.
The proposal will now be considered by the General Assembly.

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