CRANESCapital RegionAdvocacy Networkfor EnvironmentalSustainabilityOn behalf of its member organizationsand individuals, advocatingcollaboratively for the environment ofthe South Central Wisconsin region(eight counties: Columbia, Dane, Dodge,Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock and Sauk)toward a high quality of life; anecologically sustainable and justculture; and, the celebration of thebeauty of this place, both natural andbuilt.

VISIONThe Capital area's environment,including water, land, and air resources,will be conserved or restored to ensurethe region's quality of life and thebeauty of this special place, for all wholive or visit here, now and in the future.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONSEarth/Art® ResourcesFriends of Pheasant Branch ConservancyLeague of Women Voters ~ Dane CountyMadison Audubon SocietySierra Club ~ Four Lakes GroupW. Dane Coalition for Smart Growth & EnvironmentWest Waubesa Preservation Coalition

BOARD OF DIRECTORSGary Werner, PresidentJon Becker, Vice-President & TreasurerCaryl Terrell, SecretaryJohn Hendrick, At-Large OfficerStefi HarrisHarry ReadConstance “Connie” Threinen

ADVISORSRobbie Webber

C.R.A.N.E.S., INC.POB 3413MADISON, WI 53704

608.807.0887 tel

CRANESINC.ORG

INFO@CRANESINC.ORG

A Wisconsin Non-Profit [EIN 26-4056421]Fiscal Agent

River Alliance of WisconsinA Tax-exempt 501(c)3 Non-profitWisconsinRivers.org

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

November 25, 2013

MEMO TO: John Hendrick, Chair, Dane County BoardAll Supervisors, Dane County Board

MEMO TO: Joe Parisi, County Executive, Dane County

SUBJECT: Congratulations and Thank You for a very Green FY2014 Budget

Congratulations to every Dane County Board Supervisor and the CountyExecutive. The recently approved Dane County FY2014 Budget funds manyimportant environmental programs, personnel and resources that are supported bymany Dane County conservation and energy advocacy groups. CRANES isespecially appreciative of your inclusion of the climate action inventories, Phase Iof our DANE HEALTHY SKIES proposal.

On Monday November 18th, almost every supervisor voted for the budgetproposed by the Executive, after adding amendments that made use of all theremaining funding capacity permitted under the levy caps set by the State ofWisconsin. On Tuesday, the Executive signed the budget without making anyvetoes.

Importantly, with funding of DANE HEALTHY SKIES, the county will beexpanding its substantial previous work on government-based climate adaptation toinclude preparation for work on climate mitigation across the entire county. Thiseffort will implement the work product of the Work Group on Greenhouse Gas andAir Quality of the HUD grant-funded Capital Region Sustainable CommunitiesPartnership.

There is substantial funding for new and much-needed human resources forenvironmental programs as well as land protection targeted at improving waterquality. There's also funding for a Dane County Youth Conservation Corps, an ideathat CRANES and other conservationists strongly advocated during formation ofthe 2012-17 Dane County Parks & Open Space Plan.

Again, thanks for all your efforts. This is perhaps the greenest county budget ever.

Sincerely,

Gary WernerPresident, CRANES 2010-13 Board of Directors