Sen. Alexander says water district budget cuts last year pleased no one, urges changes

Sen. JD Alexander, the powerful Senate Budget Committee chairman, says no one was happy with the law changes made last year that involve budgeting by Florida's five water management districts -- and now he's supporting new changes.

Last year, SB 2142 cut water management district property tax revenue by $210 million. The bill also required water management district budgets to be approved by the Legislative Budget Commission in addition to the Governor's Office.

Environmental groups were especially critical of the budget cuts. During an environmental rally at the Capitol in November, former U. S. Sen. Bob Graham called on Gov. Rick Scott to restore funding and take other actions to protect the environment.

This year, SB 1834 would delete the property tax spending caps put in state law last year and replace them with new tax rate caps that would allow revenue to increase as property values rebound.

"I think we need a longer-term, more stable system but one that will help to check runaway spending," said Alexander, R-Lake Wales. "The bill seeks to find that balance."

Representatives of the water management districts say that in addition to eliminating positions and laying off employees, they plan to spend down much of their reserve funds in the next five years. Those reserves are needed to respond to hurricanes or other natural disasters.

SB 1834 would establish a separate tax rate in state law for "core" missions of the districts, such as water supply, flood control and protection of natural systems.

A separate tax rate would be established for regulatory, outreach, management and administrative programs. If the Legislature fails to set a tax rate caps for those programs then the districts cannot spend money on them. 

SB 1834 also maintains budgetary oversight by the Legislature but less than what was required by the law changes in 2011. 

The bill requires the Legislature to approve preliminary budgets for the districts. Legislative Budget Commission approval would be required only for substantial modifications made when the water district boards eventually approve their budgets in September.

"I don't like it but it is better than what we have," said Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon of Florida. "It is better than last year (SB 2142). It is an improvement."

 The Southwest Florida Water Management District has a budget of about $150 million with a current cap of $107 million, agency spokeswoman Amy Harroun said.

"This makes it very challenging to plan for long-term sustainability," she said. "We are pleased that the Legislature is reviewing the issue of the water management districts’ budgets and the cap that was placed on them last year."

Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers and chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, said she hasn't read the new Senate bill, which was filed last week. However, she said she's concerned about reopening the issue this year.

"I think we did enough to the water management districts last  year," Williams said. "Most have new executive directors and boards. Let's see how they function. That would be my recommendation."

"If necessary we could do that legislation in a couple of years," she said.

Reporter Bruce Ritchie can be reached at britchie@thefloridacurrent.com.