§ 25-202. Intent, scope and purpose.

(a)

The Florida Legislature, in 1996, found that Florida's groundwater is among the state's most precious and basic natural resources. The legislature further found that it is in the interest of the state to protect its groundwater from pollution, over-utilization, and other degradation because groundwater is the primary source of potable water for ninety (90) percent of Floridians. The legislature declared that it is in the public interest to allow county governments the flexibility to implement voluntary tax assessment programs that protect the state's high-water recharge areas. The legislature through the Henry Swanson-Bruce McEwan Bluebelt Act of 1996 created F.S. § 193.625, entitled "High-water recharge lands; classification and assessment," which requires Orange County, in order to establish the high-water recharge protection tax assessment program, to adopt by ordinance a formula for determining the assessment of properties classified as high-water recharge property and a method of contracting with property owners who wish to be involved in the program.

(b)

Orange County is desirous of adopting this article by ordinance for those purposes set forth by the legislature.

(c)

This article shall be applicable to the unincorporated portions of Orange County.

(Ord. No. 96-38, § 1, 12-10-96)