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Published on: News

Press Statement: FCV’s Aliki Moncrief “Meh” on Rep. Caldwell’s Conservation Funding Proposal

published on: April 26, 2017

For Immediate Release: April 26, 2017

Contact: Aliki Moncrief, Executive Director, [email protected], 850-443-7609 or Jonathan Webber, Deputy Director, [email protected], 954-593-4449

Twitter: @fcvoters

FCV’s Aliki Moncrief “Meh” on Rep. Caldwell’s Conservation Funding Proposal

Statement regarding proposed funding levels for Florida Forever.

TALLAHASSEE — Today Representative Matt Caldwell filed an amendment to House Bill 7119 specifying funding levels for the Florida Forever Program from Fiscal Year 2017 through Fiscal Year 2035. A copy of the amendment can be viewed here. Florida Conservation Voters Executive Director released the following statement on this development:

 

“We started this week off on a hopeful note, but unfortunately seeing today’s hard-number Florida Forever proposal, all I’ve got is ‘Meh. We appreciate Representative Matt Caldwell for bringing much-needed attention back to Florida Forever, but the funding levels presented today are simply not good enough. The proposal is a slight improvement over last year, yet they would place a cap on funding for Florida Forever for the life of Amendment 1. We have to act now to protect Florida’s special places for future generations. Chair Caldwell’s proposal doesn’t get us to 25% of the Amendment for Florida Forever, which we consider to be the absolute least the Legislature can do to honor the will of Florida voters. We hope to have the opportunity to work with Chair Caldwell to increase funding before the end of session next week.”

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Florida Conservation Voters started in 2012 as a coalition of Florida’s conservation organizations united towards passing Amendment 1, the Water and Land Conservation Amendment. If you’re as concerned as we are about the lack of money in the budget for buying parks and natural areas, please take action now! All you need is 2 minutes to call your legislators and ask them to do everything they can to make sure that Florida Forever receives at least 25% of the funds mandated by Amendment 1, the Water and Land Conservation Amendment! Call your Senator: 844-899-8866. Call your Representative: 844-899-9394