$113M for Keys land?
DEP pledges $93 million over 3 years for acquisition, no strings
attached
Keynoter Staff
The state Department of Environmental Protection has committed to
spending $93 million in the Keys over the next three years – no strings
attached – to acquire unbuildable environmentally sensitive land, the
agency confirmed Friday.
But the money – separate from another $20 million the state
Department of Community Affairs is considering for land acquisition in
the Keys (see accompanying story) – is far from guaranteed and not about
to flow anytime soon.
However, if the proposal does make it through all the necessary
hoops, it would mean that more than 10 percent of the annual $300
million Florida Forever budget, which provides money for state land
purchases, would be spent in Monroe County over that time span.
"I’m not saying we’re getting all of $93 million," state Rep. Ken
Sorensen told the Keynoter Friday. Sorensen has spearheaded the effort
through lobbying other lawmakers.
Still, he is optimistic.
"This is a giant step forward to completing the county land-use plan
without taxing our citizens, and demonstrates that the state of Florida
is a willing partner in preserving the Keys’ unique environment," he
said in a prepared statement.
"I think if the state is willing to do this, it is a substantial
commitment," said County Administrator Jim Roberts. "If this is a
commitment rather than a promise, then it’s a good step forward."
DEP spokeswoman Kathalyn Gaither said it’s a firm commitment – if DEP
is allocated the money.
"We are committing $93 million over three years for those projects in
the Keys," she said Friday.
Acquisition of environmentally sensitive land is called for in Monroe
County’s land-use plan, and also part of the Florida Keys Carrying
Capacity Study.
Cost estimates for full acquisition of unbuildable sensitive Keys
land has ranged from $45 million to $500 million. The far-fluctuating
figures are due to whether one uses tax assessments or the market rate
to determine the prices; assessments come in much lower than market-rate
costs.
The land purchases would go through DEP’s Division of State Lands,
not the county Land Authority.
Gov. Jeb Bush would get the final say on spending the $93 million if
lawmakers approve it in their spring legislative session – which could
be a challenge, considering the budget shortfalls the state has been
facing the past several years
But if it is a go, among those in the decision-making process would
be the Division of Lands’ Acquisition and Restoration Council.
Among the members is Key West resident Sandy Walters, an
environmental consultant. While optimistic of the possibilities for $93
million for the Keys, she is also cautious.
"Remember, this is a willing-seller program. There are specific
constraints on how that money can be spent. I’ve certainly run into
offers where the offers were so low, or the offers didn’t connect with
the sellers’ estates."
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