At the end of January the Governor announced his “Florida Leads” budget proposal.
In a press release one of the budget areas outlined was the environment. It includes “over $473 million for Everglades restoration, $50 million for springs restoration, $145 million for targeted water quality improvements, $40 million for alternative water supply and $25 million to combat harmful algal blooms and red tide.
“The budget also tackles the challenges of sea level rise, intensified storm events, and localized flooding by establishing the Resilient Florida program which will provide $1 billion over four years to provide grants to state and local government entities.
“The Florida Leads budget includes $82 million to protect Florida’s prized properties and waterbodies. This includes $50 million for the Florida Forever Program and $32 million for infrastructure improvements and resource management at state parks.”
The Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg said the following about the Everglades Restoration allocation: “This continued investment in America’s Everglades will not only help build critical water infrastructure that will advance the restoration of a national treasure, but it will create and save jobs, boost our state’s tourism-based economy, and yield tangible benefits for Floridians,” CEO Eric Eikenberg said in a prepared statement.
DeSantis’ proposed budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year, which begins July 1, is advisory only. State lawmakers are the ones who craft the state budget when they meet for the 60-day legislative session in Tallahassee each year. This year’s legislative session begins March 2.
