A Times Editorial

Cut fat from the state budget

Gov. Jeb Bush has never been shy about using his veto pen. In past years, he has slashed tens of millions of dollars in pork from budgets handed him by the Legislature, willing to anger even many in his own party. This year, Bush should cut even deeper. He should find and return as much money as possible to the conservation projects raided by legislators to pay for other state needs.

In an unpardonable money grab, legislators decided to close budgetary shortfalls in social services and education by using funds previously promised to Florida's environment. At the end of the day, $204-million was diverted from programs designed to buy sensitive lands and manage land currently held by the state.

Rep. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, who chaired the House Committee on General Government Appropriations, did what she could to turn back the effort but ultimately couldn't persuade her colleagues to respect their environmental promises. She is now calling on the governor to veto parts of the budget that divert money from environmental trusts. She says a reimbursement of at least $133.5-million is needed to keep some of these trusts viable and to keep vital environmental programs operating.

It may be too late to reimburse the environmental programs for all the money taken, but the savings from every line-item veto Bush makes should be used for that purpose. Any funds that aren't made up this year should be returned during the next budget cycle.

What the Legislature did was irresponsible at best. Lawmakers took $100-million from the reserves of Preservation 2000, a highly lauded conservation program that buys land around the state for preservation purposes. The program was funded with bonds bought by people who were assured they were investing in environmental protection. The Legislature's move, while it might be technically legal, violates the trust of bond holders and may make investors wary of future efforts.

In addition, another $104-million was taken from environmental trust funds that pay for a variety of environmental needs, including recycling, managing public lands and protection of our coastal property. Add this to the $75-million raided last year from environmental programs and put into public works projects, and you have a deeply disturbing trend.

Lawmakers made financial room for a $262-million corporate tax break this year by mortgaging the future of Florida's wetlands, forests and beaches. Bush said this week he is considering a veto of the Legislature's raid on the state's environmental reserves. We hope he does just that.

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