Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
On Everglades Action Day, Gov. Rick Scott took steps to make sure there’s a dedicated funding source to restore the River of Grass.
Scott signed a bill (HB 989) into law on Thursday to create an annual dedicated funding source to protect Florida’s environment. The Legacy Florida bill sets aside up to $200 million a year for Everglades restoration, up to $50 million for Florida springs, and $5 million for Lake Apopka.
“Florida is known across the world for our pristine ecosystem and waterways, supporting our economy and quality of life,” Scott said in a prepared statement Thursday. “Over the last five years, we have invested more than $688 million for Everglades restoration. This legislation will continue our commitment to protecting Florida’s environment so future generations can enjoy all that Florida has to offer.”
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron and Rep. Gayle Harrell. In statements on Thursday, the pair thanked Scott for his support.
“By passing this legislation to establish the Legacy Florida initiative, the House is ensuring we have a dedicated and reliable funding source to restore the Florida Everglades, the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers and end the releases from Lake Okeechobee,” said Harrell in a prepared statement. “Legacy Florida will enable us to preserve these natural treasures for future generations.”
Among other thing, the Legacy Florida bill required the Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District to give preference to projects that reduce the discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie or Caloosahatchee estuaries.
Rep. Matt Caldwell and Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, both Southwest Florida Republicans, cosponsored the legislation.
“The restoration of Lake Okeechobee, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Everglades is a major concern for all of Southwest Florida,” said Caldwell in a prepared statement. “With the passage of Legacy Florida, we are taking steps to solve those concerns by creating a dedicated funding stream with the sole purpose of protecting the health of the Everglades.”
The Everglades Foundation applauded Scott for passing the bill. In a statement, CEO Eric Eikenberg said the bill “marks a momentous occasion.”
“This will establish a dedicated source of revenue for Everglades restoration projects and allow for significant progress toward completing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan,” Eikenberg said. “Restoration is a smart investment for our state. Every dollar spent on Everglades restoration results in a $4 return.”
One comment
Realista
April 9, 2016 at 11:42 am
Amendment 1 was Passed by 75 % of Florida Voters in Nov 2014…. However But when state lawmakers released the proposed Senate and House budgets last week, the intent of Amendment 1 was suddenly murkier than the Everglades after a tropical storm.
The Senate’s budget set aside $2 million for the Florida Forever program, which was created in 1999 to fund public land acquisition and was initially authorized to spend $300 million a year. The proposed amount represents an 84 percent cut from this year’s budget and $118 million less than what Gov. Rick Scott proposes.
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