by County Commissioner Hal Valeche

Palm Beach County works in partnership with the local delegation to our State Legislature to prioritize legislative measures and appropriations to benefit our mutual constituencies.  Each year, the Board approves the county agenda for our lobbying team to advocate in Tallahassee during the session.

The appropriation requests span a wide spectrum of issues including: economic development; public safety; programs to assist the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless; affordable housing; public transportation; educational facilities; and, water and environmental projects. 

Some of the issues which are vital to our north county ecosystem are water and environmental projects for which we are requesting state matching dollars:

• Beach and Inlet Management:  Our beaches are not only critical to our tourism industry but also serve to provide upland protection against storm damage.  The investments to combat coastal erosion are necessary to benefit property values, tourism and jobs.  While state budgetary restrictions continue to force many communities to advance dollars for projects without a guaranty of future state matching grants, the need continues to expand.  Funding requests for beach and inlet management total $63 million in project costs, with local governments committing more than 50 percent of those costs.
• Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative:  The Loxahatchee River is the southernmost tributary of the Indian River Lagoon and includes the North Fork of the Loxahatchee River, one of two nationally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida.  Despite this designation and protective status, environmental problems exist in the river and must be addressed.  The Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative (LRPI) works with the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to draw down legislative appropriations to complete essential restoration.  This year's request includes more than $10 million in projects by Palm Beach and Martin counties, the Town of Jupiter, and water control districts to install sewers and water mains, improve storm water management and infrastructure, restore habitat, assess and monitor water quality, hydrology, and invertebrates.  Again, more than one half of the costs are being matched by the local entities.
• Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative:  The Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL) estuary stretches 20 miles along the shores of 13 municipalities from North Palm Beach to Ocean Ridge.  For decades, pollution and habitat loss has threatened this important water body.  The LWL Initiative was created to define and evaluate the watershed and propose actions to improve and protect the lagoon.  The County adopted and several local governments endorsed a management plan of projects to restore sea grasses, mangroves and oyster beds in the lagoon, along with plans to cap muck sediments and construct storm water controls, all of which directly affect the vitality of this natural resource.  This year's list of projects totals $9.9 million, with a request to the State for $3.4 million toward the total.

This is just a small sample of projects supported by the County that if funded with State financial assistance, will help to improve and protect our beautiful natural resources which contribute so greatly to our quality of life.  Our lobbying team will update us on the progress of our 2017 agenda as the legislative session moves forward.

As always, if there is any way that I or my staff can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.