A past member of the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District says the average homeowner’s s tax savings of about $27 a year does not justify slashing the district’s budget by 30 percent.

Nathaniel Reed said the end result is a threat to south Florida’s water supply, flood control and environment.  

Earlier this month, the district laid off 134 employees due to the budget cuts. Another 123 employees left on their own or took buyouts. Also as a result of the cuts, Standard and Poor’s has lowered the district’s credit rating, citing less financial flexibility.  

The South Florida Water Management District is the lead agency for Everglades restoration and also manages the water supply for agriculture in south Florida and for millions of residents.  Reed, of Hobe Sound, who’s also a former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, said he’s outraged.  

“All agencies can stand a five percent cut, but they can’t stand a cut the size the governor has set up.  That’s dismantling agencies, that’s crippling agencies and it’s being done deliberately -- regrettably and in concert with the Republican legislature and they ought to hang their heads in shame,” he said. 

Reed, a Republican, has led bi-partisan efforts to protect and preserve Florida’s environment for decades and remains active.  He said reforming Florida’s tax laws is one way to protect the environment in the future.

“There are so many loopholes in our tax system that so many special interests have achieved that if those loopholes were closed there would not be a budget deficit,” he said. “But do you hear any courage from the governor and legislature about closing those holes – not a peep.”

Gov. Rick Scott defends his support of the legislation that led to downsizing at the district and tax savings for south Florida residents.

“What’s going on with the water district, it’s good what’s happening.  We cut taxes by $210 million. They’re going back to their core mission,” Scott said. 

The district is concentrating on its core mission this week – monitoring weather forecasts and adjusting operations of the regional water management system in order to reduce any potential for flooding from Hurricane Irene.