Florida's Amendment 1 Placed on Nov. Ballot
Legacy Amdt. would be largest land, water conservation effort in U.S. history
Posted January 30, 2014 06:30 am
TALLAHASSEE, FL -
This November, Florida voters will have the chance to
take part in a historic vote.
(click logo for more info.)
The Legacy Amendment - now classified as Amendment 1 - will be on the ballot.
If
it passes, it would dedicate a portion of the state's
real estate transfer fee to water and land conservation.
Manley Fuller, president of the
Florida Wildlife Federation, says the consistent
funding stream is necessary to protect one of the
state's greatest environmental and economic resources.
"Florida has experienced tremendous population growth,"
he points out. "It has incredible natural resources, but
we believe that we need a long-term, steady commitment
of resources for our conservation lands."
To get on the ballot, the amendment's supporters got
more than 700,000 signatures, and approval from the
state Supreme Court and the Florida Department of State.
Opponents of the amendment say it gives the state
government too much control of the land.
If passed, 33 percent of the state's documentary stamp
tax revenue - paid when real estate is sold - would be
dedicated to land conservation, provide for outdoor
recreation, managing existing lands and protection of
lands critical to the water supply.
Fuller reminds voters this is not a new tax, just an
allocation of what they're already paying.
"We think that this is a win-win situation for Florida,"
he says. "And the voters have the opportunity to express
their opinion in November 2014 on the Legacy Amendment."
The amount of money collected by Amendment 1 from the
existing stamp tax amounts to less than 1 percent of the
state budget.
Fuller stresses it's important to note that the Legacy
Conservation Lands Program would not force any landowner
to sell to the trust or agree to an easement.
Photos/graphics and links added by the Observer
Photo: JohnMoranphoto.com