Funding
Overview
Funding for the District's land acquisition and management program comes primarily from the Water Management Lands Trust Fund and Florida Forever.
Ad valorem tax money is not used to acquire or manage District lands.
Water Management Lands Trust Fund
In 1981, Save Our Rivers legislation created the Water Management Lands Trust Fund and provided for a portion of the documentary stamp tax to be used for land acquisition and subsequent land management costs.
Changes in legislation no longer allow these funds to be used for the purchase of land. The District's current share of $5.9 million per year equals 10 percent of the amount appropriated to the state's five water management districts.
Florida Forever
The Florida Forever Act was approved by the Florida Legislature in 1999 to extend and broaden the scope of the P-2000 program. It continues funding for land acquisition for the protection and management of water resources. However, the statute also allows up to 50% of the funds to be used for other capital projects for water resource development and the restoration of natural systems.
The District receives 7.5% of the total water management districts allocation, or about $6.75 million annually.
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
When private property does become public property, it is taken off the county tax roll. Although the impact on county revenues is minimal – only 0.2 percent annually – the Legislature established a payment in lieu of taxes program in 1992 to reimburse local governments for the loss of revenue.
Twenty-five percent of all Save Our Rivers land management funds are set aside to pay for the program. To qualify for this program, a county in which the District has purchased land must have a population of less than 150,000.
2008 Payments in Lieu of Taxes
| Bradford |
$6,088.18 |
| Columbia |
$23,183.09 |
| Dixie |
$7,229.69 |
| Gilchrist |
$35,762.01 |
| Hamilton |
$13,965.98 |
| Jefferson |
$30.49 |
| Lafayette |
$50,268.71 |
| Levy |
$16,523.45 |
| Madison |
$6,149.99 |
| Suwannee |
$15,208.20 |
| Taylor |
$2,602.23 |
| Total |
$177,012.02 |
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