FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 21, 2019
Governor DeSantis Signs Largest Environmental Budget in Florida’s History
~Highlights include over $625 million dollars appropriated for protection and restoration of Florida’s Everglades and protection of water resources for FY 2019-2020~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor DeSantis signed the state budget for fiscal year 2019-2020, which appropriates the largest funding for Everglades restoration in Florida’s history and funds all of the Governor’s initiatives to achieve more now for Florida’s environment.
DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein said, “This is a hallmark moment for Florida. The Governor’s leadership and support from the Florida Legislature have resulted in a historic budget that will accelerate Everglades restoration, improve water quality, enhance water supply, further coastal resiliency efforts, and restore our beaches.”
Water Quality Improvement and Restoration highlights include:
- Everglades Restoration: more than $417 million
- Springs Restoration $100 million
- Alternative Water Supply: $40 million
- Blue-Green Algae and Red Tide (Research, Innovative Technologies and Remediation): $25 million
- Water Quality Improvements and Water Projects: nearly $100 million
Other Priority Initiative funding includes:
- Florida’s Prized Properties: $73 million
- Coastal Resiliency: $5.5 million
- Beaches: $50 million
This is the first step in fulfilling the directive laid out in Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 19-12, which called for $2.5 billion to be invested over the next four years and would amount to $1 billion more than has been invested in the previous four years.
The budget passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by Governor DeSantis today helps to ensure the protection of Florida’s environment and water quality, and will support the Department in its mission to protect, conserve, and manage the state’s natural resources and enforce its environmental laws.
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