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Budget Woes Could Halt Conservation Program

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 8, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - The state Senate wants to suspend the Florida Forever land conservation program for six months, effectively abandoning dozens of land purchases already in the works, including several in the Bay area.

Environmentalists are reeling from the Senate's decision to axe Florida Forever funding for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. The proposal would mean canceling issuance of $250 million in bonds, which would have supported Florida's purchase of environmentally sensitive land around the state.

"Florida Forever evaporates if this passes," said Eric Draper, lobbyist for the Audubon Society. "There are dozens of contracts to buy land; all those contracts are either going to be renegotiated or they're going to be canceled."

The Department of Environmental Protection released a 15-page list of acquisitions and projects that they said will not go forward if the Senate plan takes effect. The roster includes

Riverside Park in Temple Terrace

Pasco Palms in Pasco County

Lake Dan Preserve in Hillsborough County.

Alafia River acreage in Hillsborough County

Weaver Park in Pinellas County

Lake Chautauqua Equestrian and Nature Preserve in Pinellas County

Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County

Canceling the bond issue would save the state $4 million this year. Annually, it would save $20 million that would have paid down the bond debt. The proposal is part of the Senate's broader plan to plug a $2.3 billion hole in the state budget.

"We're here to balance the budget," said Senate budget chief JD Alexander, R-Winter Haven. "Given the difficult decisions we're making throughout this budget, it's hard to continue to spend $250 million buying land that doesn't put anyone to work and takes it off the tax rolls when we are struggling to fund education and health care."

Suspending Florida Forever does not appear in the House's budget plan at this point. But environmentalists say they fear the program is doomed this year because the Senate historically has been the most protective of Florida Forever.

The issue has not emerged as a partisan one. House Minority Leader Franklin Sands, D-Weston, said the proposal is a realistic one provided that it is only a temporary fix and does not jeopardize the program's future.

House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon said it's too soon to say whether the House will go along with the plan, which is headed for conference negotiations this weekend.

"I think everyone recognizes that Florida Forever is a program that has achieved great goals," said Cannon, R-Winter Park. "We're going to have to look at it, just as we compare it with all of the other priorities that we're dealing with for the current fiscal year – and we'll deal with it."

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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