Push for Amendment to Protect FL's Environment
Posted October 8, 2012 10:37 am | Public News Service
Eight-year old Brenna's drawing from Brownie Troop #317,
Spring Hill, FL.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Efforts continue to pass an amendment to Florida's state constitution to protect annual funding for environmental protection and restoration. The Florida Land and Legacy Campaign is working through a petition drive to put an amendment on the November 2014 ballot to guarantee annual funding for land and water conservation.
Laurie Macdonald, Florida program director of Defenders of Wildlife, says annual funding will help environmental groups focus on the task at hand.
"It has taken a great effort for, especially the
conservationists, to go back to the legislature every
year and advocate again for the program."
The amendment, if passed, would allocate one-third of
the money collected from the existing excise tax on
documents to help restore lost funding to the
Florida Forever Program. Since 2009, lawmakers have
cut funding for the program by more than 97 percent.
Since 1994 there have been six amendments to the state
constitution regarding environmental protection, and
five of them passed. Will Abberger with the
Trust for Public Lands emphasizes this amendment
would not cost taxpayers more money.
"This is not a tax increase. We're just taking the
historical funding source that's always been used for
land conservation and dedicating it. The legislature
won't be able to use the funds for any other purpose."
Based on current projections, the Florida Land and
Legacy Campaign estimates the amendment would generate
$5 billion for conservation and restoration of land and
water resources over the next 10 years.
Links and Photos added by the Observer