(August 28, 2015 -Tallahassee) The Sierra Club, the Florida Wildlife
Federation, St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Environmental Confederation of
Southwest Florida represented by Earthjustice filed suit today asking the courts to force
the Florida Legislature to return Amendment 1 funds to a conservation land
buying fund.
"We are asking for Florida’s courts to uphold the
constitution as amended by the voters,” said Sierra Club Florida Conservation
Chair Tom Larson. “The legislature needs to be held accountable for ignoring
the will of the people."
The funds from documentary stamps on land transactions, which
are expected to reach $740 million next year, were diverted by the Legislature to
accounts that had nothing to do with land acquisition. Among other things, they
were used to pay state executive salaries, agricultural pollution subsidies and
insurance premiums.
According to the suit: “The Legislature owes the people of
the State of Florida a duty to honor and effectuate the intent of the voters in
the use of the funds placed in trust under this constitutional amendment.”
The November 2014 ballot summary stated:
Funds the Land Acquisition Trust
Fund to acquire, restore, improve, and manage conservation lands including
wetlands and forests; fish and wildlife habitat; land protecting water
resources and drinking water sources, including the Everglades, and the water
quality of rivers, lakes and streams; beaches and shores; outdoor recreational
lands; working farms and ranches; and historic or geologic sites, by dedicating
33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents for 20
years.
An extraordinary 75 percent of the electorate voted for
Amendment 1 proving that the people of the state understand the need to protect
the richness of Florida's wild heritage and unique waters.
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