News Articles
Florida Forever Up In Air Amid Land Holding Questions
News Service of Florida, February 9, 2010
By JOHN KENNEDY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 9, 2010......Lawmakers' frustration with the state's inability to provide a comprehensive list of its land-holdings may dog efforts to revive the Florida Forever environmental program.
The House Natural Resources budget committee Wednesday echoed complaints about not being able to receive a full list of properties owned or leased by state agencies. With a $3.2 billion budget shortfall hovering, committee members said they want to take stock of the state's current holdings and are wary of taking more land off the property tax rolls.
Gov. Charlie Crist has recommended steering $50 million to renew the Florida Forever program, which protects 2.4 million acres of springs, coastline, forests and other sensitive lands. The program received no state dollars last year and looks certain to face an uphill fight for money again, despite the governor's support.
"People are saying watch your dollars, spend them wisely and make sure the people of Florida are getting what they're paying for," said Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Vero Beach, committee chairman.
How that spirit plays into jumpstarting Florida Forever remains an open question, he added.
"We're not saying it's dead. We're just saying we…want to spend money that's going to make a substantial difference in the lives of Floridians," Poppell said.
Committee members said land owned by the state and Florida's five water management districts already shield billions of dollars worth of land from taxes at a time state lawmakers are feverishly hunting for revenue to maintain schools, social services and other programs.
The Florida Forever program maintains a full list of its land-holdings -- so what lands the state has as part of the program isn't an issue. But with lawmakers angered that it's not clear in a wider sense just how much the state owns, and intent on belt-tightening in a tough year, the program's prospects remain uncertain.
Senate budget chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, has blistered officials from the state's Department of Management Services for struggling to provide a wide-ranging state property list.
A DMS report submitted to lawmakers showed the state owns about 67,000 parcels of land, but officials have been unable to round up information on facilities owned or leased by the state, partly because property information is scattered among various state agencies. Also, there is little consistency between the 67 county tax appraisers, meaning that some data might not properly reflect state holdings.
DMS has suggested building a $600,000 database to help compile the property records.
Alexander has said the state would be in a better position to negotiate leases and other land deals if lawmakers had comprehensive information in front of them.
Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, a candidate for state Senate, said that when he was first elected to the House in 2001, he asked for a roster of state properties.
"To this day, I haven't seen this list," Evers said. Now in his last House year because of term limits, Evers asked committee members, "Would someone please pick up the torch?"
In his budget proposal, Crist restores Florida Forever through a $50 million bond issue -- an approach that would force lawmakers to add to the $26.4 billion state debt that is already the highest in its history.
Last year, the Legislature was forced to earmark $2.1 billion to maintain the state's tax-supported debt -- double the amount Florida taxpayers owed 10 years ago.
"We know there are many other compelling needs," said Andy McLeod of The Nature Conservancy in Florida. "But it's important to keep the program going because in this real estate market, it's a good time to buy environmental property. Timing is key.
"We also want to continue to convey to landowners that the state will be ready to buy," he added. "We don't want to send them an adverse message for the second year in a row."
Copyright 2009 The News Service of Florida
