On Tuesday the Everglades Foundation and contractors involved in restoration efforts called on the Florida legislature to maintain funding for the programs, saying cuts would cost private-sector jobs. #
Funding for the efforts peaked at $200 million under Jeb Bush, and under Gov. Rick Scott’s budget plan could fall to $17 million from the current $50 million, a loss that could be amplified by additional cuts at water management districts. #
David Stites of Taylor Engineering in Jacksonville said Everglades restoration efforts have helped stem the flow of losses as a business from state and local governments dried up due to plummeting property values, and that the proposed budget reductions are already leading to cutbacks. #
They sent letters to Scott, Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio. A sample is below #
Dear Senator Haridopolos: #
Please support continued state funding of Everglades restoration. Not only do these projects protect a source of drinking water for one in three Floridians, improve our water quality and restore one of Florida’s most precious ecosystems — they also create quality private-sector jobs in the state of Florida. Throughout Florida, there are private-sector employees planning, designing and building the individual projects that restore the Everglades. The efforts of these hard-working men and women will help secure Florida’s supply of water and help rebuild our economy. #
We write to you as a group of businesses working on the restoration of the Everglades. Continued state funding of Everglades restoration will help ensure that the federal government stands by its commitment to fund these important projects and will allow construction to move forward. The Everglades stand at a crossroads. With large land acquisition projects completed, Florida is poised to reap the benefits from the construction of key restoration projects — projects that we proudly help design and build. #
Funding for Everglades restoration has been reduced from a one-time level of $200 million and has already been subject to disproportionate budget reductions over the last few years. Cuts to funding could mean a loss of jobs. #
This legislative session, please continue to stand by Florida’s commitment to the Everglades. Know that continued funding for these projects is invested in private businesses, like ours, that will help make the goals of this great effort a reality. #
Sincerely,
#
Wendy Cyriacks, President
Cyriacks Environmental Consulting Services, Inc.
3001 SW 15th Street, Suite B
Deerfield Beach, Fl 33442 #Terry Flanagan, Vice President
HNTB Corporation
7077 Bonneval Road
Suite 600, Liberty Center
Jacksonville, FL 32216 #Terrence Hull, President
Taylor Engineering
10151 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 300
Jacksonville, Fl 32256 #David Lickliter, Sr. Project Manager
UESI/Underwater Engineering Services, Inc.
3306 Enterprise Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34982 #Gene Eichelberger, Project Manager
Palm Beach Grading
1250 Gateway Road
Lake Park, FL 33403 #David Quinn, Co-owner
Quinn Contracting, Inc.
24590 Highway 370
West Falkner, Mississippi 38629 #Juan Vazquez, Vice President
R J Behar & Company, Inc.
6861 SW 196th Avenue, Suite 302
Pembroke Pines, FL 33332 #Katherine Garces Worth, President
Worth Contracting, Inc.
2112 Ternigan Road
Jacksonville, FL 32207 #George Powell, Vice President
Wright Construction Group
5811 Youngquist Road
Fort Myers, FL 33912 #Mary Goldsmith, Business Development Manager
PBS&J
7406 Fullerton St. Suite 350
Jacksonville, FL 32256 #cc: Florida Senate & House of Representatives #
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