Funding Florida Forever: the Florida Water and Land Legacy Act
As of 2017 the legislature has funded Florida Forever land acquisition at 5% or less than historical funding for the last three years. This was in spite of 75% of voters approving the Water and Land Legacy Act (WLLA) in 2014. This funding shortfall is contrary to the intent of the WLLA.
The LWVFL, along with the ten member organizations of the Florida Conservation Coalition and 69 affiliate members, is campaigning for proper funding in 2018 legislative session. To learn more about this issue, and how you can help, Click here for more details.
The League of Women Voters of Florida endorsed a proposed amendment to Floridas constitution in 2014 that protects hundreds of thousands of acres of land needed to ensure the states clean water supply and wildlife habitat for generations to come. A core intent of the amendment was to acquire valuable land.
The amendment dedicates one-third of existing documentary stamp tax to restore the Everglades; protect drinking water sources; and revive the states historic commitment to protecting natural lands and wildlife through the Florida Forever Program.
It provides more than $5 billion for water and land conservation in Florida over the next 10 years. It took effect in 2015 and expires in 2035.
LWVF worked diligently to obtain thousands of the 683,000 signed and verified petitions which were needed to get the Water and Land legacy proposal on the ballot and passed in 2014.
Read this letter to Florida’s Legislators on the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.
