Florida Legislature Defy Voters – Approve 2016 Budget that Underperforms on Environmental Spending. Questions Remain about Diversion of Amendment 1 Funds
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]pending for environmental programs appears to have actually dropped this year in spite of 4.2 million people voted to pass the Water and Land Conservation Amendment and put $750 million in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.
Some legislators spent debate time defiantly suggesting that Amendment 1 sponsors misled voters as they justified shortchanging the Florida Forever program, Everglades restoration, and springs funding. Surprisingly, the new budget provides far less than even what Governor Rick Scott proposed in his budget proposal.
There are a few bright spots. The Florida Forever priority project list is funded for the first time in years and some springs funds are targeted toward land acquisition.
Amendment 1 and other Environmental Spending
Land Acquisition
• Florida Forever $17.4 million
• $15 million from LATF
• Kissimmee River Restoration $20 million
• Rural and Family Lands $15 million
• Part of the $45 million in springs funding may be used for land acquisition.
Everglades
•Springs (Including Land Acquisition)
• Springs land acquisition and capital improvements $45 million
• $5 million of the Ag non-point spending below goes to springs
Other Beneficial Water Spending
$21 million from LATF
•Total Maximum Daily Loads (urban water quality projects) $9.4 million
•Ag Dispersed Water Storage $4.5 million*
from LATF
•Dispersed Water Storage and Management $31 million*
$18.5 from LATF*Audubon supports many, but not all, Dispersed Water Management Projects
