PALATKA, Fla., June 15, 2006 — The St. Johns River Water ManagementDistrict will hold a public meeting to present draft recommendations for cost-sharefunding of alternative water supply construction projects as part of the FloridaWater Protection and Sustainability Program (WPSP). The meeting will be heldfrom 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, July 12, 2006, at District headquarters inthe Governing Board room, 4049 Reid St. (Highway 100 West), Palatka. Publiccomment on the recommendations will be received during the meeting.

The WPSP was created through passage of Senate bills 360 and 444 during the2005 legislative session and their subsequent signing into law by Gov. JebBush. In fiscal year 2005–2006 (Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2006),the District awarded $18.2 million in cost-share funding through this programfor alternative water supply development construction projects.

Projects must be identified in the District Water Supply Plan before theycan be considered for cost-share funding. Eligible projects are evaluated basedon consideration of the 12 factors described in 373.1961(3)(f) and (g), FloridaStatutes (2005). Also, the District may add evaluation factors as appropriate.District staff will recommend projects for inclusion in the cost-share fundingprogram. The District’s Governing Board will ultimately select the projectsfor inclusion in the program. Staff anticipate taking the final draft recommendationsto the Governing Board for consideration on Aug. 8, 2006.

Cost-share reimbursement will be up to 40 percent of construction costs. Projectsselected for this program may be allocated less than 40 percent reimbursement.The District’s Governing Board will determine the percentage of reimbursementon a case-by-case basis. The entity constructing the project will be requiredto pay at least 60 percent of the project construction costs.

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