Key West The Newspaper

KEY LARGO, FL – At the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners meeting Wednesday in Key Largo, Mayor George Neugent praised the work that was done on behalf of Monroe County by Rep. Holly Raschein, Sen. Anitere Flores and the County’s entire legislative team during the 2017 State Legislative Session in Tallahassee.

Monroe County Director of Legislative Affairs Lisa Tennyson said most of the County’s state legislative priorities were successful this year.

Monroe County received an appropriation of $13.3 million through the Florida Keys Stewardship Act. (This tied for the largest water appropriation in the State with one other area).

The Commission expressed disappointment that the State Legislature did not fund Florida Forever, which includes Monroe County’s allocation for land acquisition. The Commission expressed hope that Florida Forever would be funded next year.

The County also achieved several of its other state priorities, including:

• preserving proof of pump out and strengthening derelict vessel regulations;
• receiving $500,000 cash appropriation through the Department of Environmental Protection for pump out services;
• preserving the number of Monroe County judgeships;
• increasing state funding for clerks;
• passing a law specific to Monroe County that allows telecommunication for advisory boards;
• passage of a bill that funds Everglades restoration and water storage in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA)
• and preserving home rule by killing a bill that would have put state law over local law regarding regulations pertaining to  businesses, professions or occupations in most cases.

For the complete final monitoring report of Monroe County’s legislative priorities and issues, go to this link on the County’s website: http://fl-monroecounty.civicpl us.com/DocumentCenter/View/ 11925