The numbers have been crunched and the environmental budget for New York State in 2007-2008 looks pretty good.

The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)

The EPF will increase by $25 million to $250 million, however, this is a one-year arrangement. This means that next year's EPF will start at $225 million, plus whatever revenue the governor and legislature agree on.

Agency Staffing

109 positions will be restored at the Department of Environmental Conservation as well as 55 new staff at the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 8 or more at the Department of State Oceans and Great Lakes Council, and 5 at the Adirondack Park Agency. Also, a new office of climate change was created.

Bigger Better Bottle Bill

As previously reported, this will not be part of the budget and left to the legislative season, which picks up again on April 16 when the legislature returns to town from Passover/Easter break.

Read more budget details here and here