Governor Rick Scott says he'll ask state lawmakers for $55 million this year to help clean up Florida’s springs. The proposal comes as lawmakers work on a $380 million funding package for the natural water bodies throughout central and northern Florida.
Nearly half of the proposed funding is aimed at reducing the impact on the springs of nutrients from outside sources. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard says the sheer number of people in the state is one of the main reasons for increased water pollution.
"We have 19 million people who live in our state", Vinyard pointed out. "It’s septic tanks; it’s runoff from our urban communities. It’s excessive fertilizer. It’s wastewater treatment plants."
Scott made the budget announcement Tuesday at an awards ceremony for DEP employees, which is in charge of regulating Florida’s water quality. The governor’s budget proposal is seen as a blueprint for the legislature to use when crafting the state spending plan.
Ultimately, it’s up to House and Senate leaders to build the entire budget of more than $70 billion.