Report: Comprehensive water project work program needed | Florida

(The Center Square) — Critical water projects statewide are in need of the establishment of a work program, a Florida nonprofit says.

Florida Taxwatch, billed as an independent nonpartisan research institute, released its report Wednesday. It says the amount of growth in local water projects inclusive of stormwater runoff, wastewater and lake restoration put into appropriation bills by lawmakers have increased from $30.1 million in fiscal 2018-19 to $431.1 million in fiscal 2023-24.

That’s an increase of 1,333%. Last year, there were 268 projects earmarked by lawmakers. 

According to the report, 910 local member water projects, costing $1.1 billion, have been funded by lawmakers. 

These earmarks were passed despite the state having several programs to deal with water projects. The Legislature created the Wastewater Grant Program (funded at $200 million this year) and Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan/Resilient Florida Grant Program (received an appropriation of $300 million this year). In addition the state has created at least 13 assistance programs for local governments to improve water infrastructure, worth $1.4 billion.

Florida Taxwatch recommends the state emulate the Florida Department of Transportation Five-Year Work Program and use a scoring system based on specific criteria to ensure the most vital projects receive funding. The group says matching funds should be required for these projects, since many of them are local responsibilities and that need-based criteria be applied so that poorer counties and municipalities receive the most assistance.

They also recommend that any lawmaker-requested project be approved by the same criteria as other, similar projects. 

According to the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research, the need for these projects is great. The state’s research agency estimates statewide water use will increase by 14% between 2020 and 2040, which would exceed the state’s water supply. The agency estimates the state will need to spend $201.5 billion for stormwater management and wastewater services from 2023 to 2040, including $90.5 billion worth of capital improvements

“The state should develop a more comprehensive, coordinated, and thorough process for selecting water projects, with a focus on achieving outcomes that best support, integrate, coordinate, and sustain the statewide goals and priorities,” said Florida Taxwatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro in the report’s foreword. “This will create a statewide legacy of significant infrastructure and fiscal stewardship for generations of Floridians to preserve and enjoy.

“Florida’s valuable and vital water resources, and the state’s taxpayers, deserve nothing less.”