Gov. Scott’s Budget Recommends $15 Million in Funding for Land Acquisition and Water Quality Projects for Monroe County

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Gov. Rick Scott released his Governor’s budget today, and it contains early good news for Monroe County. The budget recommends $5 million for land acquisition and $10 million for water quality projects through the Florida Keys Stewardship Act.

Recommendations in the Governor’s budget are important because they serve as a demonstration of the Governor’s support to the State Legislators in the House and Senate, when they consider funding for Florida Keys’ land and water in their own budgets. Monroe and its municipal partners are advocating for a $20 million appropriation for water quality projects, but the Governor’s $10 million recommendation serves as an important placeholder.

“We are thankful that Governor Scott continues to support the Keys in our effort to restore canals, collect storm water and do projects that enhance the water quality of the nearshore waters, which are critically important to the Keys’ economy and environmentally sensitive marine resources,” Mayor Pro Tem David Rice said.

Monroe County also is appreciative of the efforts of Sen. Anitere Flores and Rep. Holly Raschein, who led the passage of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act last year and are now spearheading the appropriation efforts this year.

The recommendations in the Governor’s budget are a good first step. The next move is in the hands of the State Legislature. The Florida Keys Stewardship Act dedicates an annual $5 million “carve out” in Florida Forever funding for land acquisition and authorizes appropriations for water quality projects located in the Florida Keys.

“The State Legislature has been a good partner to Monroe County, and we’re hopeful they will continue to support the Florida Keys,” Monroe County Mayor George Neugent said. “We will continue to work with our Senator and Representative and our municipal partners to make the case for the full $20 million appropriation based on the tremendous environmental and economic value of protecting the pristine waters of the Florida Keys.”

Here are the recommendations in Gov. Scott’s budget released today:

1552 FIXED CAPITAL OUTLAY LAND ACQUISITION, ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED, UNIQUE/ IRREPLACEABLE LANDS, STATEWIDE FROM FLORIDA FOREVER TRUST FUND . . 15,156,206

Funds in Specific Appropriation 1552 shall be used for land acquisition projects on the approved Acquisition and Restoration Council’s priority list pursuant to section 259.105, Florida Statutes. From the funds in Specific Appropriation 1552, $5,000,000 from the Florida Forever Trust Fund is provided for land acquisition for the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern pursuant to section 259.045, Florida Statutes.

1608 GRANTS AND AIDS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NONSTATE ENTITIES – FIXED CAPITAL OUTLAY GRANTS AND AIDS – FLORIDA KEYS WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND . . . . 10,000,000

Funds in Specific Appropriation 1608 are provided to the Department of Environmental Protection to be distributed in accordance with the existing interlocal agreement among the Village of Islamorada, the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District, the City of Marathon, the Monroe County/Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, the City of Key West, and Key Colony Beach, for the purposes of implementing stormwater collection and treatment systems; canal restoration and muck remediation projects; and projects that protect and enhance water supply and quality in the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern and the City of Key West Area of Critical State Concern.

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