Sarasota News Leader

03/14/2014

Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/277189

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 16 of 125

A state constitutional amendment on the bal- lot in November would set aside an estimated $5 billion over the next 10 years for water and land conservation and habitat restoration. If approved, the Florida Water and Land Legacy initiative, Amendment 1 , w o u l d m e a n a f u t u r e w i t h m o r e parks, preserved nat- ural spaces and water restoration projects across the Sunshine State, from Sarasota Bay to the Everglades, said campaign direc- tor Will Abberger. The measure would be funded by a third of the revenue from documentary stamp fees, or doc stamps. The latter are state taxes paid when a home is sold or it changes ownership. Such a state fund- ing stream has been directed to environ- mental preservation efforts for more than a decade, but with $1.64 million in Florida Forever funding made possible the purchase of 71 acres for Sarasota's Red Bug Slough in 2002. During that year alone, $70 million was distributed throughout the state for conservation efforts. Photo by Roger Drouin PROPONENTS SAY APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT 1 IN NOVEMBER WOULD MEAN MORE CONSERVATION EFFORTS ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATE, BUT A COUNTY COMMISSIONER WORRIES ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON OTHER PROJECTS REVENUE STREAMS It is not creating a new stream. It is taking money from where we need it. Christine Robinson Vice Chairwoman Sarasota County Commission By Roger Drouin County Editor

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Sarasota News Leader - 03/14/2014