I have been informed that on Nov. 19, the governor authorized emergency spending reductions to appropriations. As a result, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance eliminated funding for the earmarks in the FY 2015 legislative appropriation account number 2330-0100. Such earmarks included funding in the amount of $100,000 for shellfish propagation in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.

As a result of this action, the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group will lose $33,000 in funding this fiscal year.

Please ask Gov. Deval Patrick to rethink funding for account number 2330-0100. Request that he restore funding in the amount of $100,000 for shellfish propagation in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.

Call 617-725-4005 or post your request at his website (www.mass.gov/governor/constituentservices/contact/#email).

Rick Karney
West Tisbury 

The writer is executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group.