JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed what he said was a $117.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that started Tuesday and issued $567 million in line-item vetoes, while saying the plan better prepares the state for potential economic downturns.
As examples, DeSantis vetoed $4.44 million for public television stations, $2 million for repairs to the Brickell Key Bridge and $1.73 million for the South Florida AgriCenter and Emergency Shelter at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
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One lawmaker hit hard by vetoes was Rep. Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican who chairs the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, which spent weeks scrutinizing a foundation linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis’ signature economic-assistance program, Hope Florida.
DeSantis axed 15 projects in the Panhandle sponsored by Andrade, totaling $7.45 million.
Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, thanked DeSantis for cutting $6.25 million that would have gone toward restoring North Florida’s Ocklawaha River by tearing down the Rodman Dam.
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Environmentalists have tried for decades to restore the river, which was dammed as part of an effort to create the long-abandoned Cross-Florida Barge Canal. But officials and businesspeople in areas such as Putnam County have contended that the reservoir, known for its fishing, is an economic engine.
Leek, whose district includes Putnam County, said the funding, which was a priority of Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, would have “destroyed the Rodman Reservoir and quality of life in our surrounding communities.”
Here’s a look at some of the other local projects and programs that were cut by DeSantis:
- Jacksonville University Graduate, Retain, and Optimize a Workforce (GROW) of Florida Nurses (SF 2853) (HF 1743) - $ 2,666,667
- Episcopal Children’s Services Summer Bridge Program (SF 1924) (HF 2050) (Multi-county, but includes Clay) - $500,000
- Elevate Jacksonville: Expanding Mentorship and Life Preparation for Urban Youth (SF 2858) (HF 1194) - $250,000
- Florida Lighthouse At-Risk Youth Mentorship Program (Multi-county, but includes Duval) (SF 3028) (HF 2131) - $250,000
- The Sowing SEEDS Project (several NE FL counties) - $80,000
- Enhancing Literacy and STEM for Home Schooling Families (HF 1745) (Duval) - $50,000
- Northeast Florida Career Readiness Catalyst Project for Future Economic Success (SF 2033) (HF 1193) - $975,000
- Striving for Excellence, Inc. (SF 1409) (HF 1205) (Duval) - $100,000
- Episcopal Children’s Services Flagship Center (SF 2857) (HF 1619) (Duval/Baker/Clay/Nassau) - $250,000
- Construction Inspection Training Program (SF 1688) (HF 1203) (Duval) - $250,000
- First Coast Technical College - Industrial Agriculture Program Enhancements (SF 2551) (HF 1847) (St. Johns) - $92,308
- University of Florida Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Computer System Modernization (SF 2015) (HF 3251) - $350,000
- The Arc of Bradford County - Rural Workforce Capacity Building and Infrastructure (SF 2305) (HF 3290) - $300,000
- Amour Creations by G’Bre - Piloting Our Youth (SF 2091) (HF 1896) (Duval) - $100,000
- The Giving Closet Project - Essential Angels - Removing Barriers for Students (SF 1751) (HF 1617) (Duval) - $150,000
- Historic Eastside Community Development - Preventive Health and Wellness Initiative (HF 1206) (Duval) - $200,000
- NAMI Family and Peer Support (SF 1696) (HF 2954) (bunch of counties statewide, including Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau) - $350,000
- El-Beth-El Development Center - Youth Upskill Academy (SF 1878) (HF 1548) (Duval) - $14,000
- Mitigating Food Insecurity for Older Adults in Northeast Florida (SF 1406) (HF 1015) (most of NE FL) - $400,000
- Florida Stroke Registry (statewide) - $1,000,000
- Reach Out and Read: A Children’s Literacy Program Through Pediatric Primary Care. (SF 1821) (HF 1698) (Statewide – but request was made by Rep. Wyman Duggan of Jacksonville) - $500,000
- Planet Swim Foundation: Promoting Water Safety and Accessibility (HF 2187) (Clay, Duval, St. Johns) - $45,000
- Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Camp Kateri Capital Project (SF 3178) (HF 3438) (camp is in Alachua, but serves all of NE FL) - $400,000
- Increasing Employee Retention at the Florida Department of Corrections (SF 1410) (HF 2062) (Statewide – but request was made by Rep. Jessica Baker of Jacksonville) - $488,295
- FCO - R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Duval Independent Affordable Housing Project (SF 1443) (HF 3177) - $100,000
- Stop Now and Plan - Service Members (SNAP Heroes) (SF 2027) (HF 1361) (NE FL) - $350,000
- Alachua County Jail - Capital Efficiency Analysis (SF 1107) (HF 1350) - $225,000
- City of High Springs Police Station (SF 2955) (HF 3258) - $250,000
- Law Enforcement Property & Evidence Hub (SF 2961) (HF 3291) (Gainesville PD) - $350,000
- Fixed Capital Outlay - Construction/Renovation/Repair - Doyle Conner Gainesville - $4,967,415 (Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services building in Gainesville)
- Alachua Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion (SF 2059) (HF 3296) - $225,000
- High Springs North-West Alachua County Utility Improvement (SF 2025) (HF 3259) - $250,000
- Jacksonville - Armsdale Road Drainage Improvement Project (SF 2594) (HF 1334) – $2,000,000
- Save Florida Waters, Inc. Northern Springs Restoration Project (SF 1564) (HF 3257) (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Union) - $250,000
- Jacksonville - University Boulevard and Edenfield Road Traffic Signal (SF 1989) (HF 1333) - $1,142,000
- Walk-Off Charities - Expansion of Youth Baseball & Softball Development Programs (SF 1384) (HF 2869) (Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns) - $650,000
- Walk-Off Charities - Expansion of Youth Baseball & Softball Development Programs (SF 1384) (HF 2869) – $100,000
- Putnam County Enterprise System Update (SF 2561) (HF 2174) - $1,900,000
- Gainesville Southwest Public Safety Services Center (SF 2226) (HF 2320) - $1,170,500
- Switzerland Vocational & Community Center (SF 3454) (HF 1857) (St. Johns) - $70,000