Last week, Great Lakes Echo reported recent legislative attempts to change what Michigan’s Natural Resources Trust Fund supported.
We asked readers where they wanted to see the majority of those funds spent. Here’s the breakdown:
Land purchasing: 51 percent
State park development: 20 percent
Biking/walking paths: 6 percent
Roads/trails for motorized vehicles: 6 percent
Dredging projects: 2 percent (1 vote)
General budget: 2 percent (1 vote)
Other (explain in comments): 14 percent
But that’s based only on 51 votes. Voting isn’t closed, so if you haven’t already, read the story and vote/comment!
Some of the ideas Echo readers voiced in the comment section:
JoMic said: “Trust fund money should be spent on all of the first four selections above plus it would be great to have more programming to educate the public about Michigan’s natural beauty. Spending some of the money to send kids (especially city kids) to summer camp so they can experience and learn to appreciate nature wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Helping to fight invasive species, stock lakes and streams with fish, even using it to subsidize hunting and boating safety courses would be a great use of this money. They need to use it to benefit the general public rather than big business.”
Joe said: “You could also use that money to start up a garbage burning facility that generates electricity. It would ensure less runoff from landfills entering water supplies, and pay for itself with less money needed for allocating landfills…”
On June 10th in Oceana County the Tea Party Senator Geoff Hansen, R- Hart 34 District will include the following locations in his “Hansen’s Hotspots” tour to brag up his support of SB229 to screw West Michigan tourism. Senator Hansen is bragging up his stealing our NRTF money away from projects such as Fisherman’s Landing & lakeshore bike trailhead on Muskegon Lake, and give it to his marina/condo pals. Senator Hansen’s tour will begin in Hart, Starting Block Kitchen Incubator, Bike to Pentwater, Boat to Silver Lake Sand Dunes and State Park, Bike to Shelby; Fox Barn Winery & Cherry Pointe Farm Market, Drive to Shelby; Country Dairy, and Bike to New Era; Oceana Winery. Each stop will be approximately 30-45 minutes as the opportunity for West Michigan tourist to let Senator Hansen and Senator Casperson know the tourist of Michigan do not support the Republican party theft from our NRTF.