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A Times Editorial
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 30, 2002
Under Republican Gov. Bob Martinez, the state sold revenue bonds for Preservation 2000, a groundbreaking, 10-year, $3-billion program designed to buy and protect sensitive land. At the time, Floridians and investors were promised that those funds would go for environmental conservation. But legislators, facing a tight budget this year, are planning to put their sticky paws on some of the money and have already earmarked $100-million of P2000 reserve funds to be diverted to pay for general state expenditures.
This possibly unlawful and decidedly unethical maneuver is now being considered during the special session on the budget. Rep. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, who oversees environmental spending in the House, says she is deeply disappointed at the way the budget deal shortchanges environmental projects. Dockery says she will try to convince the House leadership to find the money somewhere else. Dockery told the St. Petersburg Times: "We don't want to break the budget deal, but we want to make sure we don't break the bond covenants."
Exactly. The P2000 bonds were sold on the basis of promises, good promises that have translated into more than a million acres of forests, springs, wetlands and beaches being acquired by the state for the protection of wildlife habitat, the stewarding of our water resources and providing Floridians with recreational opportunities. The program has been deemed so vital to Florida's future that a successor program, Florida Forever, was approved in 1999 with almost no dissent from either side of the aisle.
Under the budget deal, the Legislature is planning to take money from the P2000 debt reserve -- money that is legally tied to the specific purpose of acquiring land -- and "wash" it by using it to pay off the debt service on the bonds, thereby freeing up funds to pay for health care, education and other expenses. This attempt to bypass the bond covenants is a bit of trickery that should not withstand legal challenge. At least one environmental group has promised to sue if the state goes through with the plan.
The list of sensitive properties waiting to be purchased is still tragically long and includes a number of projects in the Tampa Bay area. The $100-million being eyed by the Legislature could help make a dent in the list.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Jeb Bush says he is "not pleased" with the Legislature's plan but has not decided whether to threaten a veto. Dockery says the plan as far as she knows has the governor's blessing: "I don't think we'd be (using the $100-million in this way) if all three parties (the House, Senate and governor) didn't come to at least a reluctant agreement."
The Legislature has a duty to get out of its budgetary bind without snatching money set aside to protect the state's environmental future. Tax cuts for corporations shouldn't be the only priority in Tallahassee.