Attorneys for the Florida Legislature and state agencies have requested the Florida Supreme Court dismiss two environmental groups’ appeals regarding the long-running legal battle over state conservation funding.
The environmental groups argue that the state misused funds from a 2014 constitutional amendment meant to set aside a portion of real-estate documentary stamp tax revenues for conservation efforts.
The environmental groups, including Florida Defenders of the Environment and the Florida Wildlife Federation, took their case to the Supreme Court after the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s dismissal of their challenges.
Read: Gulf Weather System To Drench Florida; 2024 Hurricane Season Forecast Remains Active
The lower court had ruled that the issue was moot due to the passage of time and the state’s budget decisions in the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
However, the state’s attorneys contend that the environmental groups’ “endless procedural maneuvers” have unnecessarily prolonged the litigation and wasted public resources. They urge the Supreme Court to decline review and bring finality to the “wasteful and unfruitful litigation.”
The dispute’s central issue revolves around using funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund, established by the 2014 constitutional amendment. The environmental groups allege that the state improperly diverted funds intended for acquiring and managing conservation lands to other expenses.
Read: Rain Assisting With The Polk County River Ranch Complex Fire: Florida Forest Service
As the Florida Supreme Court considers the state’s request for dismissal, the outcome could have significant implications for the future of conservation funding in the state.
“The FDE’s (Florida Defenders of the Environment’s) endless procedural maneuvers have served no better purpose than to exhaust public resources and needlessly prolong this obsolete proceeding,” one of the briefs said. “This Court should decline review and bring much-needed finality to this wasteful and unfruitful litigation.”
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.