District preliminary budget focuses on fiscal responsibility and cooperative projects

PALATKA, Fla., Jan. 12, 2016 –The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board today approved a preliminary budget that demonstrates the agency’s continued commitment to fiscal responsibility and protection of Florida’s water resources.

“The preliminary budget effectively allocates fiscal and staff resources in a manner that will achieve the district’s core mission responsibilities for water supply, water quality, natural systems and flood protection,” said District Executive Director Ann Shortelle. “This plan includes continued funding for cost-share projects with local governments, agriculture and other partners, including funding opportunities for water conservation and water storage projects.”

Key core mission objectives and priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2016-2017 include:

Focusing on cost-share opportunities throughout the district in an effort to get more projects in theground to benefit water resources;Constructing, operating and maintaining flood protection and restoration projects;Managing and restoring district lands;Developing and implementing minimum flows and levels prevention-recovery strategies; Implementing

water supply planning strategies to plan for meeting future demands while protecting the waterresources; and

Conducting hydrologic, water quality and environmental monitoring. The board’s action authorizes district staff to submit the FY 2016-2017 preliminary budget to the president of the Florida Senate and speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and the chairs of committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over water management districts. The district’s tentative budget will be introduced in July, and the final budget expected to be approved in September.

The preliminary budget is available at www.sjrwmd.com/budget.