Will Our Future Drown? Paying for the Costs of Sea-Level Rise

Florida’s coastline is not permanent and sea levels have risen in the past. If sea levels rise in the future, it could lead to problems for our homes, infrastructure, and tax base. We need to have real conversations about this issue instead of getting caught up in the loud voices on the internet. This article wants to have a discussion about how we can pay for the costs of sea-level rise without letting our future drown. What if sea levels rise as predicted? What tax policies should Florida have in place to deal with the problem? The Florida Constitution Revision Commission is currently working on making changes to the state constitution, and it’s important to consider the impact of sea-level rise on future generations. This article provides a framework for thinking about the tax implications of this issue as the commission does its work. Experts say Floridians will likely face significant challenges with sea-level rise in the coming years. Florida law requires coastal communities to have plans to deal with rising sea levels. This includes using data and studies to come up with strategies to reduce flood risk. A group called the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact has done a lot of work on this issue and has made projections for the future. By 2100, sea levels could rise by 2.5 to 5 feet. This will be expensive to deal with, and each community will have to come up with its own plan. Should the government have to pay to protect coastal areas from rising sea levels? Can coastal property owners force the government to maintain services, no matter what? It’s a tricky question. If the government has a duty to protect infrastructure from sea-level rise, then private citizens could take legal action against the government if they don’t do anything. The big question is, who will actually pay for all of this? Should areas not at risk of sea-level rise have to chip in to help pay for it? We need to figure this out before it becomes a real problem. The authors of the article say that the local governments in Florida can’t handle the costs of sea-level rise on their own. They are in competition for tourists and growth, and if property values and tourism decrease, they won’t have enough money to solve the problem. The article suggests that Florida should consider creating a state-level fund to help all coastal communities. It also discusses different ways that local governments can raise money to fight sea-level rise. Local governments use different types of taxes and fees to pay for things like adapting to rising sea levels. Ad valorem taxes are based on property value, so if sea levels rise and property values go down, the government will have less money. Special assessments and user fees are other ways the government can get money for sea-level rise projects, and they only charge the people who benefit from the projects. For example, they might charge tolls on bridges to pay for raising them higher above the water. Local governments have a few options for funding infrastructure projects to deal with rising sea levels. They can charge storm-water fees, impose impact fees on new developments, issue bonds, or seek grants and subsidies from the government or private foundations. These funding sources can help pay for the costs of protecting coastal areas from the effects of sea-level rise. However, these sources may not be as readily available in the future, so it’s important for local governments to take advantage of them while they can. State-level grants and public-private partnerships are potential solutions for coastal communities to address sea-level rise. These options can help mitigate costs for local governments and involve private entities in protecting Florida’s coasts. However, constitutional considerations, such as limitations on state taxes and bonds, may also need to be addressed to find creative solutions for dealing with sea-level rise. The article is asking for input from people in Florida about how to deal with rising sea levels. It mentions historical sites that are underwater now and how President Reagan dealt with a similar problem in the 1980s. It also talks about a commission in Florida that is working on this issue. If you’ve read this far, you are now part of the conversation. Every 20 years, a commission meets to discuss important issues in Florida. Certain local governments near the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean need to have a plan for managing their coastline. This plan should consider the impact of rising sea levels and prioritize funding for infrastructure needs. The Southeast Florida Climate Change Compact is a group working on this issue and has received attention from the White House and others. They have projected that sea levels will rise in Southeast Florida and recommend that people review the full projection. A study in 2013 found that local governments will have to spend a lot of money on flooding due to sea-level rise. In the case of Jordan v. St. Johns County, it was found that if a local government fails to maintain infrastructure and it causes damage to properties, the property owners can sue for compensation. This could also apply to sea-level rise if a government doesn’t take care of coastal infrastructure. The authors are open to different viewpoints on whether a statewide, coordinated response is needed for this issue. The City of Coral Gables has a document about legal considerations for dealing with sea-level rise. It talks about how local governments can pay for adaptation efforts and what activities are considered essential for a municipality. Property taxes are based on the value of the property. The Coral Gables White Paper discusses whether people who own property inland in a coastal county would be willing to pay higher taxes to help with rising sea levels. This is part of a bigger question about who should pay the costs of rising sea levels. It’s important to have this discussion now, before it becomes an emergency. There are different laws and court cases that could affect how these issues are handled. It’s also important to consider how state funds could help with the costs of rising sea levels. In simple terms, the Tax Law Section wants to teach its members to do their duty and help the public, make the legal system better, and make the study of law better.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/will-our-future-drown-paying-for-the-costs-of-sea-level-rise/