Thursday, November 19, 2009

Forever, as it turns out, arrived in 2009. That is when the shortsighted members of the Florida Legislature managed to kill all funding for the Florida Forever program.

This year, for the first time in the 40-year history of a very successful land-preservation program, all Florida Forever money was diverted into the state's general fund. No new money was set aside to purchase land.

This worthwhile program doesn't work through state condemnation proceedings to force the sale of environmentally sensitive lands or acquire unique open spaces. It involves a willing seller wanting to preserve his or her property for future generations.

So, when sellers of land could have used a boost in a bad economy, the Legislature axed the program in the name of balancing the budget.

The Legislature has managed to do what time and politics could never otherwise have managed.

Four former governors have become united and are calling for the Legislature to restore funding for the program: Two are Democrats -- Reubin Askew and Bob Graham -- and two are Republicans -- Bob Martinez and Jeb Bush.

A coalition of some 125 groups -- with backgrounds and beliefs as diverse as those of the four governors -- have lined up behind them.

Florida started selling bonds in 1968 that were backed by documentary-tax-stamp revenue for the purpose of land buying. Over the years, the program has gone through several transformations.

During the Graham administration -- 1979-1987 -- the Conservation and Recreational Lands program was created. ...

That program changed in 1990 under the Martinez administration to Preservation 2000.

In 1999, Preservation 2000 was replaced by the present Florida Forever program, under which 2 million acres has been preserved statewide ...

Gov. Charlie Crist managed to veto a 2008 attempt to gut the Florida Forever program. But the Legislature succeeded in diverting all the money for it into the general fund this year.

The four former governors seek to have the Legislature designate $15 million for the Florida Forever program during its 2010 session. Since the money is bondable, it would generate $300 million for purchases in the coming years.

What better way indeed? If legislators can't answer that question, they should follow the advice of four former governors.

-- The (Lakeland) Ledger