Florida Conservation Land Management: Evaluation, Options, and Efficiency

1. The Florida Legislature The Legislative Sunset Review Process Agency Consolidation of Conservation Land Management: Options and Considerations Larry Novey Chief Legislative Analyst, OPPAGA

2. Scope Review state agency conservation land management costs and unit costs Provide alternatives and considerations 2

3. There are Over 9 Million Acres of Conservation Lands in Florida

4. Three State Agencies arethe Primary Managers • Three agencies conduct land management activities • Department of Environmental Protection – manages state parks, greenways, and trails • Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – manages state forests • Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – manages wildlife management areas

5. Agency Land Management Activities • Planning and review • Visitor services and recreational access • Invasive plant control • Prescribed fire and wildfire control • Habitat and species management • Hydrology restoration and control • Law enforcement

6. 2007 Land Management Uniform-Accounting Council Cost Categories 6

7. Agency Land Management Costs are Generally Stable and Average $187 Million Per Year 7

8. Agency ManagementCost per Acre Varies 8

9. Factors Influencing Cost per Acre • DEP receives higher funding due to greater public use of lands it manages • More facilities and greater visitation in state parks results in higher capital outlay, maintenance, and law enforcement costs

10. Potential Benefits of Consolidating Land Management Activities Statewide management focus Centralized policy making Greater accountability and oversight Increased efficiency of operations through economies of scale, consolidated management 10

11. Potential Drawbacks of Consolidating Land Management Activities Potential loss of focus on agency missions For example, public use versus environmental protection Transition from decentralized to centralized management may be difficult 11

12. Potential Cost Considerationsfor Consolidation • Potential cost decreases • Consolidations in headquarters and other managerial staff • Restructuring workload and activities • Potential cost increases • Start-up costs (modification of leases and staff/equipment relocation, integrating technology and information systems, signage) • Consolidating pay plans

13. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Cost Estimates 1,679 of 1,977 positions transferred to DACS Potential reduction of 15 positions Cost decrease of $715,870 Reported it is reasonable to expect that other personnel, vehicles, equipment, and facilities could be eliminated 13

14. Contacts • Larry Novey, Chief Legislative Analyst,487-3768novey.larry@oppaga.fl.gov • Kara Collins-Gomez, Staff Director,487-4257 collins-gomez.kara@oppaga.fl.gov • Claire Mazur, OPPAGA Sunset Project Coordinator and Chief Legislative Analyst,487-9211mazur.claire@oppaga.fl.gov