Times Union: Environmental programs may lose millions as Florida tries to tighten budget

[Patricia M. McBride]

A reminder is in order:  In relation to this subject, one should also mention the energy bill that was just passed by our state  representatives with only 4 negative votes (the sane representatives in the  house were Eisnaugle and O'toole who voted  no, and senate members Hays and  Negron who voted no).  The energy bill passed with such a huge majority the  governor could not veto the bill.  The energy bill will increase our utility  bills by large amounts and attract "green energy" companies to our state with  subsidies of "our tax dollars".  And now, we don't have the money to do  inspections?   Please remember in the upcoming elections that every single one  of our local representatives voted for the energy bill, and I personally see the  lack of money to handle this to be directly tied to huge give away programs that  have failed miserably at the federal level losing billions of our federal tax  dollars to companies that have gone and are going bankrupt one after another!  I  suspect our state tax dollars are also going to be lost in the same manner.

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The proposed cuts would hit petroleum inspection and air quality initiatives.
5.25.2012

By           Matt Dixonjacksonville.com             Copyright 2012 The Florida Times-Union. All rights res...

May 25,  2012 - 12:08am

Environmental programs may lose  millions as Florida tries to tighten budget

TALLAHASSEE - Jacksonville inspectors handed out 349 citations last year for  petroleum storage systems that were not up to par.

Of those, 74 were classified as "significant" or "the greatest threat or  potential for harm to drinking water and/or surface water," according to an  email sent from James Richardson, the administrator of Jacksonville's  Environmental Protection Board, to board members this week. It could be harder  to stay on top of the problem moving forward.

Proposed cuts could take away millions of dollars from environmental programs  funded by the state but operated by local governments. They will hit petroleum  inspection and air quality programs, which concerns local officials.

The cuts could "greatly impact the health and safety of our citizens,"  Richardson wrote in the lengthy email.

State officials say the cuts represent needed belt-tightening and that they  are helping local governments adjust to minimize the impact.

Read more at Jacksonville.com:  http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-05-25/story/environmental...