A comment to my earlier post today about the U.S. Geological Survey budget revealed a program cut of $5M to the National Geospatial Program that deserved further investigation. The current 2010 enacted budget is 70,748 for the National Geospatial Program, and the 2011 request is for 65,887, which verifies the size of the cut.
Further search in the budget document verifies some of the impacts of the cut:
“The budget proposes a net decrease of $4,861, including a reduction of $3,500 for National Map partnerships which will eliminate all funds used specifically to leverage participation with Federal, State, and local agencies to acquire new data. Additional decreases include $564 for a technical adjustment to move regional executives’ staff to the Science Support budget activity and $797 for Department-wide management efficiencies.”
Seems the biggest hit is to new data collection and partnerships with others. I’m wondering if this is a positive sign of more coordinated geospatial data procurement through cooperation with other federal agencies or if it means an elimination of up-to-date imagery and other data products specific to this budget cycle. I hope to find out more details to pass along in the coming days.
