To keep tabs on important issues affecting Martin County taxpayers, we attended Gov. Rick Scott's participation in the Everglades Coalition's 27th annual conference this month on Hutchinson Island. This is a report on the discussions that took place during this important event.

A discussion took place regarding the cost of Everglades restoration and the investments made over several decades as well as potential future investments required to complete the project. The primary challenge appears to be not only the funding, but how to determine the return on investment to taxpayers for the huge amount of dollars it will take going forward. Another issue raised was that the size of the dollar amounts needed could dwarf the gross domestic product of many countries. Since 2000, taxpayers have contributed $1.5 billion, in addition to the $765 million contributed by the federal government. Unfortunately, much of the past investment had been devoted to undoing (or redoing) decades of digging, dredging and diking to tame what was then considered a mass natural nuisance.

Thus, there is an important assumption that any future investments would produce significantly better results - or so it would seem.

Advocates of the Everglades believe in the environmental benefits of investing in this project, but speakers also lauded the economic contributions of the project. A report by Mather Economics cited the fact that for every dollar invested in Everglades restoration generates $4 in economic benefits. Mather also projected that investing $11.5 billion into the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan over the next 50 years would provide $46 billion in benefits and create 442,664 jobs. Gaining political support is the challenge facing Gov. Scott, and some believe he is off to a good start in winning over some of his toughest skeptics.

While Scott's predecessors - former Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist - appropriated a combined $325 million for Everglades restoration, Scott faces a much more difficult road ahead in earning the trust of the conservationist community. His cuts to state parks and water management districts are two examples of what environmentalists see as a cultural divide in the priorities of his administration. At the conference, Scott announced budgetary proposals to spend $40 million on Everglades restoration in 2012 - $23 million more than he requested from the Legislature last year. This statement met with rousing approval from the attendees.

In essence, the governor has to gain support for this budget and will need the help of more business leaders, the chambers of commerce and other fiscally minded individuals to inspire the public and taxpayers on the economic advantages of the project and future protection of this bountiful natural resource. The taxpayers association is willing to help and support the project. We are hopeful that any broad-based alliances, such as the Everglades Coalition, can accomplish what they expect to achieve. However, we will support only funding mechanisms that have measurable outcomes in economic and environmental benefits and gains.

We will continue to monitor the project as it evolves, but reserve the right to object if the stated objectives do not meet the expectations or if the returns on investment are not met. We will keep you advised.

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