GOV. RON DESANTIS SIGNS FY26 BUDGET THAT INCLUDES MONROE COUNTY FUNDING FOR CRITICAL PROJECTS 

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Yesterday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Fiscal Year 2026 State budget, including the full $20 million Florida Keys Stewardship Act and $5 million for land acquisition appropriation. In addition, the state funded $1.65 million toward developing a mooring field in the Lower Keys, and $650,000 for the mobile vessel pump-out program. The budget also provides significant funding for programs that indirectly affect Monroe County, including Everglades restoration, Florida Forever, and affordable housing.

“This budget from the Governor and delegation continues to show us that protecting the Florida Keys’ delicate and fragile environment is a top priority,” said Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley. “This included a lot of work put in by our legislative affairs team and countless hours put in by Rep. Mooney and Sen. Rodriguez.”

The State Legislature enacted the Florida Keys Stewardship Act in 2016. This one-of-a-kind legislation acknowledges the importance of protecting the Florida Keys’ unique and fragile resources, including its coral reef, seagrass beds, and mangroves. Monroe County has secured more than $100 million in water quality funding since the passage of the act, and Florida Keys communities use the funding to implement water quality projects to protect these resources.

In addition to the funding, two major bills were signed into law that affect the Florida Keys, including SB 180, which increases the hurricane evacuation window by .5 hours, providing 900 new Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) allocations, over 10 years, to be used one per vacant lot. SB 830 was also signed into law, allowing law enforcement to remove migrant vessels within five days using state funds.

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