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r- AUG 2 4 1991 P�,,F�,��2• I BOOK �� , Proposed District Budget Vital Statistics for FY 1993-94 (starts October 1) St. Johns River Water Management District Total operating budget $107.5 million Location: 12,400 square miles comprising all or parts of 19 counties in northeast and east central Floridcl. Funding sources Ad valorem (property) tax Population: Approximately 3.25 million. Population growth statewide is State sources (specific projects) averaging approximately 600 new residents per day, according to the latest • Preservation 2000 state figures. • Save Our Rivers • SWIM Mission: To manage water resources to ensure their continued availability • Aquatic plant control while maximizing environmental and economic benefits. • Cross Florida Greenway operation • Rodman Reservoir study Land Acquisition Program: This is a critical part of managing and protect - Water Quality studies Ing the area's natural resources. Florida has lost nearly half of its historic Federal sources (specific projects) wetlands and is losing an average of 70 acres per day, equivalent to nearly • EPA Near Coastal Waters Grant 41 square miles each year. Purchasing environmentally -sensitive and water • EPA National Estuary Program resource project lands benefits both man and nature. Non-structural flood Permits, fees, licenses control — buying floodplains and their upland buffers along rivers, lakes and bays targeted for potential development — protects residents and helps Ad valorem tax rate avoid the types of flooding catastrophies we've seen in the Midwest this Tentatively set at .555 mill summer. Current rate is .358 mill Another benefit of acquiring lands is the recreational opportunities availa- ble to the public. Fishing, hiking, horseback riding, camping, regulated hunt - Tax rate limits ing and other passive activities are available on most District -owned lands. Set by Florida Constitution 1.0 mill This gives the public a chance to enjoy a part of rapidly vanishing "Old Set by Florida Legislature 0.6 mill Florida." Currently, 83% of all District -owned lands are open to the public. Within five years, 95% of District lands will be accessible for public use. Where the money goes Because land use regulations are subject to change, the only permanent General Fund $56.2 million protection for environmentally -sensitive lands is acquisition. Buying lands Capital Projects $35.1 million critical to the health and restoration of our natural resources is an equitiable (includes Land Acquisition) . solution to the issue of balancing environmental protection with individual Debt Service $ 8.3 million property rights. Special Revenue $ 6.7 million (includes SWIM, NEP) Millage Rate Comparison Public Comment The St. Johns River Water Management District has the lowest millage of Two public hearings will be held before the three most populous districts. a final budget is adopted.The first will be District 1992-93 1993-94 on September 7, with the second on September 22. South Florida 0.547 mill 0.647 mill Both hearings will be held at District headquarters in Palatka, beginning at Southwest Florida 0.550 mill 0.711 mill' 5 P.M. • St. Johns River 0.358 mill 0.555 mill Suwannee River 0.517mill 0.517 mill Northwest Florida 0.050 mill 0.050 mill" ' Southwest Florida Water Management District millage rates reflect a weighted average of basin and District -wide millages. Northwest Florida Water Management District millage rate is limited to ' 0.05 mill by statute. The St. Johns River Water Another Way to look at the budget Management District is responsible The District relies on science to ensure a safe water supply and to restore for protecting and enhancing Florida's and preserve our waterways. Here's how the budget breaks down: vital water resources in northeast • 29% of the budget pays for data collection, research, outreach and and east -central Florida. support services; Headquarters are located in Palatka - 25% of the budget pays for project construction and operation; with full-service field offices in Orlando, . 29% of the budget funds land acquisition; Jacksonville and Melbourne. • and the remainder pays to keep the lights on. 8