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Lawmakers directed $91.1 million to hometown health and human services projects, including clinics, meal-delivery programs and a hurricane center. Not all will make it past the finish line. Gov. Ron DeSantis, aiming to curtail spending amid the COVID-19 pandemic, used his veto pen last year to wipe out $44 million in health care-related projects inserted into the budget by state lawmakers.
The question is whether he will do it again this year as the state’s financial picture has improved.
An analysis of the health and human services portion of the budget obtained by The News Service of Florida shows that lawmakers this year were able to direct $91.1 million to hometown projects, including money for hospital clinics, meal-delivery programs for homebound people and a hurricane center for The Arc of the St Johns.
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Local projects proposed amid Florida s budget woes
Published article
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - State lawmakers, advised this week about limited tax dollars amid the COVID-19 pandemic, have already proposed 43 hometown projects worth more than $45 million.
And hundreds more are expected before the 2021 legislative session starts in early March.
The proposals range from the $25,000 sought by Rep. Anna Eskaman, D-Orlando, for an adult-literacy program in Central Florida (HB 2017) to $7.2 million sought by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, to continue funding the Veterans Access Clinic at Nova Southeastern University (Senate form 1000).
Other examples include requests for $250,000 to help fund septic-to-sewer conversions in Collier County (HB 2045); $300,000 to help elevate Bonita Springs homes flooded by Hurricane Irma in 2017 (HB 2043); and $200,000 to promote swimming lessons for children in Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough, Broward and Miami-Dade counties (Senate Form 1007).
$45M in local projects proposed amid Florida budget woes
Jim Turner, News Service of Florida reporter
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And hundreds more are expected before the 2021 legislative session starts in early March.
The proposals range from the $25,000 sought by Rep. Anna Eskaman, D-Orlando, for an adult-literacy program in Central Florida (HB 2017) to $7.2 million sought by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, to continue funding the Veterans Access Clinic at Nova Southeastern University (Senate form 1000).
Other examples include requests for $250,000 to help fund septic-to-sewer conversions in Collier County (HB 2045); $300,000 to help elevate Bonita Springs homes flooded by Hurricane Irma in 2017 (HB 2043); and $200,000 to promote swimming lessons for children in Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough, Broward and Miami-Dade counties (Senate Form 1007).