Senate Budget Committee Votes for Lower Taxes, Greater Oversight of Water Management Districts

The Senate Budget Committee voted to cut the ad valorem tax rates of the state's water management districts to the tune of $210.5 million, increasing its oversight of the bodies for good measure.

The move got the unanimous approval of the committee, and would allow the Legislature to annually review and authorize the millage rates of each of Florida's five water management districts. Currently the WMDs, which are made up of unelected board members appointed by the governor, arrange and adopt their own budgets and tax rates.

"In my 14 years I've had more complaints in my district about WMD expenditures and taxes than anything that I deal with," said Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, who chairs the Budget Committee.