Florida Inland Navigation District officials anticipate opposition every time they build a sediment processing facility and that could mean backlash from residents in development-wary Martin County once several projects eventually move forward.

The Florida Inland Navigation District built a $1.2 million sediment processing facility in northern St. Lucie County and has been laying the groundwork for two similar projects on Indian River Drive since the mid-1990s.

Sebastian area homeowner Gary Kaczenski never heard of the Florida Inland Navigation District before the obscure state agency started building a sediment processing facility near his neighborhood.

Realtors, developers, attorneys, land planners, lobbyists and businessmen control millions of taxpayer dollars without being elected.

A year after drastically cutting the state’s water management districts, Scott wants to put Florida’s 1,600-plus special taxing districts on the spot to see if they’re doing their job at a reasonable price for taxpayers.
The districts, which range from community redevelopment agencies that look to improve portions of cities or counties to multi-county organizations like FIND, draw $15.5 billion annually in tax dollars — a stat that jolted Scott when he first heard it.