By: Sun Sentinel Editorial Board | Sun Sentinel
Nothing reveals a governor’s priorities more than his budget. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ first budget — a record $91.3 billion — addresses the right priorities for Florida.
Whether it’s the environment or education, the opioid crisis or affordable housing, DeSantis is distancing himself from his fellow Republican predecessor, Rick Scott.
Most notably, DeSantis has followed through on his campaign promise to deal with the state’s water quality crisis. The new governor proposes $625 million for the budget year that begins July 1 and wants the same amount over each of the next three years.
Of that first down payment, $360 million would go to 22 Everglades-related projects. The reservoir in Palm Beach County that will allow southward releases of water from Lake Okeechobee would get $107 million, an increase of $43 million.
That reservoir will reduce the amount of polluted water sent east and west to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. In turn, that reduction will help the 150-mile-long Indian River Lagoon — the St. Lucie flows into it — and the Gulf of Mexico. Research suggests that water from Lake Okeechobee exacerbates red tide outbreaks in the gulf.
DeSantis also would provide $10.8 million for a task force to study blue-green algae, which has been the main problem in the lake and in Treasure Coast waterways. Another $4.2 million would go to red tide research. Last summer’s outbreak in the gulf was historic and horrible. The state recently restocked the area with redfish after red tide claimed so many.
Showing that he wants to work on all aspects of the water crisis, DeSantis also proposes $150 million in grants to help local governments convert residents from septic tanks to sewer systems. Leaky, aging septic tanks contribute to the runoff that fouls the St. Lucie.
DeSantis wants to add employees at the Department of Environmental Protection. He is creating an office that will recommend action to deal with rising seas. The Department of Health would get its own $1 million for algae research.
Meanwhile, DeSantis will have an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the South Florida Water Management District. Among many other things, it’s the lead state agency on Everglades restoration.
Last month, just a few days after taking office, DeSantis demanded that all nine members of the district’s governing board resign. In November, with almost no public notice, the board unanimously had extended a lease of the reservoir land to a sugar grower.
The lease will keep the land from public use for at least two years and perhaps eight. New documents undercut the district’s claim that the board had to act quickly. DeSantis had asked the board to delay the vote, which came two days after the election.
Between resignations after DeSantis’ demand and expired terms, DeSantis by March could name eight of the nine board positions. His first two choices – Ron Bergeron and Chauncey Goss – are encouraging.
Bergeron, of Broward County, is a longtime Everglades advocate. Goss is member of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. Rick Scott’s choices had included no one with a background in environmentalism or conservation.
Indeed, DeSantis’ budget seeks to repair the damage to Florida from eight years of Scott’s neglect on the environment. He ordered tax cuts at the water management districts, which could threaten flood protection. His administration refused even to mention climate change. He gutted the state planning agency.
On education, DeSantis’ budget surprises in a good way. Though he rarely has appeared at traditional public schools and has praised charter schools, DeSantis is proposing $21.7 billion for K-12 schools, a nearly $700 million increase over the current year. That comes out to about $7,653 per student, a $224 increase. Last year, Broward and Palm Beach counties essentially got no money for anything but school security. He wants to spend another $423 million to recruit and retain top teachers and principals, a move that would replace the existing Best and Brightest Program. And $10 million boost to mental health funding for schools.
In addition, DeSantis wants to pare down the hated testing regime. He wants to scrap the rule that links teacher bonuses to their SAT scores. The president of the state teachers’ union, which endorsed Gillum, has expressed cautious optimism about the education budget.
We like other parts of the governor’s budget. Unlike every other recent governor, he wouldn’t raid the affordable housing trust fund. He also wants an additional $30 million to fight opioid abuse. There would be nearly $2 billion in federal money for rebuilding in the Panhandle after Hurricane Michael.
DeSantis, who is new to Tallahassee and the Legislature, will face resistance. House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami, has said that he wants to cut the budget. North Florida legislators may demand more than the $50 million DeSantis proposed for springs, which also have suffered from poor water quality.
Compared with Republican leaders of the Legislature, DeSantis thinks big — and in the right way. Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, wants more toll roads. Oliva believes that health care costs will come down if providers have to list their prices.
The last few years have shown that Florida’s economy depends on a healthy environment. The money DeSantis wants is not an expense. It’s an investment.
Article last accessed here on February 12, 2019. A print-ready version is available here.