TALLAHASSEE, Florida — State legislators want to spend $25 million in the state budget on a water pollution study that some environmentalists say is a waste of money.
The 2024-25 budget passed by legislators earlier this month includes the $25 million for Florida Gulf Coast University to identify and analyze “impaired” rivers and determine the upstream sources of that pollution.
Some environmentalists say the state already has identified pollution sources but have not taken action. They say the study proposal, supported by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R), is vague and triggers concerns that it could be used to delay or block environmental regulations.
Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, told POLITICO on Thursday that the proposed amount for the study is “incredibly high.”
