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State must preserve Florida Forever

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2009

There is a good reason Democrats Reubin Askew and Bob Graham have joined Republicans Bob Martinez and Jeb Bush to campaign for the funding of Florida Forever.

The former Florida governors understand the land-acquisition program initiated by Martinez in 1990 is essential to the state's environmental and economic welfare. They also know it has been one of the most effective and popular programs in the state's history.

State lawmakers, who refused to fund the program last session, should heed the governors' advice.

The state Senate, to its credit, did approve a funding plan, but it failed in the House, where the leadership linked Florida Forever funding to a controversial plan to allow oil drilling immediately off the coast.

This time lawmakers, regardless of how they feel about coastal drilling, should recognize petroleum production is an inappropriate funding source.

Drilling would not generate state revenues for years. And because of the uncertainties of oil prices and production, drilling revenue cannot be bonded.

In contrast, Florida Forever's traditional funding source - documentary stamp taxes on real estate transactions - is bondable.

An allocation next session of as little as $15 million would allow the state to raise $300 million in bonds, the usual annual expenditure for Florida Forever.

And, as Martinez points out, the doc stamp raises money from the growth that makes preserving wilderness tracts, beaches, springs and river corridors necessary.

"People say growth ought to pay its way," he says. "What better way than using real estate revenues to save land."

Thanks to Florida Forever, the state has protected more than 2 million acres of land. Most have been bought outright.

But funds also are used to buy development rights on ranches, which preserves natural land and agricultural operations.

Floridians get a big return for their investment. Florida Forever not only conserves wilderness, it protects water supplies, provides recreational opportunities and spares government the costs of providing roads and other services to sprawling subdivisions. It allows communities to better manage growth while protecting landowners' rights.

Ecotourism is the fastest-growing part of the state's $65 billion-a-year tourism industry. The Florida park system alone has an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion.

Outdoor recreation opportunities are important to young professionals and make the state more appealing to businesses. And the properties near conservation areas invariably increase in value.

The state often splits the costs with local governments, such as Hillsborough's, that have their own land-acquisition programs. Without Florida Forever funding, local programs' effectiveness could diminish.

(Note to lawmakers: Last fall nearly 80 percent of Hillsborough voters approved an extension of its conservation program, despite the economic downturn. Voters understand the importance of saving Florida's landscape.)

Funding Florida Forever during this recession would have a double benefit. The state would be able to buy tracts at bargain prices, but the money would go mostly to local landowners, who would reinvest it in Florida.

State lawmakers should recognize the program's extraordinary value, as former Gov. Jeb Bush does.

"Our continued commitment to conservation through the Florida Forever program will enable us to ... leave a lasting plan for stewardship of our precious natural areas ..." Bush says.

"We can offer no greater gift for future generations."

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