ATHOL — The Athol Bird & Nature Club has joined a host of other environmental organizations in endorsing a ballot initiative that aims to protect, expand and improve the state’s inventory of conservation land and wetlands.
Adoption of Question 6 would create a fund that could be used for natural resource conservation and would receive some state taxes from the sale and use of sporting goods and recreational vehicles, and the use of golf courses. ABNC President David Small said the money could be used for a variety of purposes.
“The way it’s constructed,” he explained, “it could be used for updating existing parks and conservation areas, as well as providing new ones. It’s not just about acquiring new properties; it can also be used to improve the facilities we already have.”
It’s estimated that the sales taxes could generate up to $100 million for the “Nature for All Fund.” Question 6 has also been endorsed by Mass Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance and other groups.
Small said money collected for the fund would be overseen by a 15-member panel comprised of representatives from five state agencies, one environmental justice representative and nine members of the public.
“One of them would need to be an ecologist who will actually make sure pushing things in the right direction,” Small said.
Currently, Small added, the state spends about $24 million annually on conservation projects across Massachusetts, through the Department of Conservation and Recreation or the Department of Fish and Game.
“That money comes out of a bond bill, and we’ve never had more than about $24 million a year appropriated for those purposes,” he said. “So, this is an opportunity to invest more money in that direction.”
According to the state, there was no organized group advocating against Question 6 at the time of the printing of the state’s voter information guide.
“The proposed law creates an unstable fiscal framework by permanently earmarking up to 100% of state sales tax revenues from sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses,” reads the voter guide.
In-person early voting in Athol begins on Oct. 17 and runs through Oct. 30 at Town Hall.
Oct. 24 is the deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election. The Town Clerk’s office will be open that day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mail-in ballot requests must be made in writing by 5 p.m. on Oct. 27.