The Florida Association of Counties isnt trying to twist arms, but it needs members along the Gulf Coast to decide rather quickly on the formation of a consortium to handle the federal cash for Deepwater Horizon oil disaster-related restoration projects.
While members seemed to support the idea, details of any unified effort remain unknown, including whether the eight most heavily impacted counties -- those that have pushed federal officials the hardest for the RESTORE Act -- should be separated out from the other 15.
But the assocation also believes a decision must be made soon, before state leaders decide they will take it up themselves to act as a clearinghouse for the money that is heading to the states in two large but separate pots.
We want the state of Florida involved as a partner, said Florida Association of Counties Executive Director Chris Holley. Were continuing to work with the governors office; weve offered them a membership on the consortium.
Holley added that they are trying to get an agreement signed by the 23 county commissions ready by Oct. 1.
Holley added that details about the make-up of the panel, along with setting any focus on tourism, economic development and environmental impact restoration efforts, could be hammered out as the consortium begins holding meetings.
Youve got to get them together before you start, he said.
Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson, where oil continues to be cleaned from the beach, said those directly impacted should have more of a say.
We put a lot of effort into this to get to the point where the local governments have control, Robinson said.
I think the key is, weve got the opportunity to control it, we should; as local governments we made the effort, were the ones out there putting forth and I think it certainly allows itself to be more applicable to the local areas, local needs and the local impacts.
Each county that impacted had different impacts.For me to say I know the impacts of another county, I dont.
With years and maybe decades of restoration work ahead, the Gulf Coast counties in line to receive a portion of the federal pot recently set up for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster remain divided on how they want to divvy up the cash.
The eight Florida counties most impacted by the deadly oil disaster continued efforts Thursday at the Wyndham Bay Point Resort in Panama City to sway others also in line to receive federal money to create a unified group.
The effort, under the direction of the Florida Association of Counties, seeks to form a coalition that will allow them to have greater control over the dollars heading to the Gulf Coast through the recently approved federal RESTORE Act.
Bay County Commissioner Mike Thomas, whose county is among the eight listed as most impacted, favored tiers.
Thomas said the separation would allow for smaller panels that could more easily decide how to direct the cash.
When you put 23 politicians in a room and try to make a decision, youre going to have real problems, Thomas said.
The RESTORE Act could mean bringing $5 billion to $20 billion to the Gulf Coast states impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Nearly one-third of the dollars would go to ecosystem restoration and another 30 percent to the states based upon miles of shoreline directly impacted, which would lean heavily toward Louisiana.
Another 35 percent would be split evenly between the states.
For Florida, the federal allocation formula could bring between $520 million to $3.6 billion.
Unlike Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, in Florida some of the money goes directly to the counties instead of the state government.
The eight Panhandle counties most impacted -- Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla would receive 75 percent of the direct-to-county dollars.
Another 15 counties -- Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota and Taylor -- are in line for the remaining 25 percent.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
