What's in the state budget for Pensacola?
- June 19, 2015
- / Staff Reports
- / government
The 2016 state budget is set to be voted on later today.
State Sen. Don Gaetz said in a constituent email that the budget contains an estimated $700 million for Northwest Florida education, transportation, economic development, environmental and cultural projects.
Gaetz (R-Niceville) is Senate Education Appropriations Chairman, overseeing $20 billion in early learning, K-12, college and university appropriations, and serves on the Appropriations Committee that has jurisdiction over the entire $78 billion budget.
Once approved by both Houses of the Legislature, the budget goes to Governor Rick Scott, who has until June 30 to sign or veto any spending item.
On average, public school districts will see more than a 4 percent increase in total funding. Per student funding will increase by $207 to $7,096.96. In 2016, Northwest Florida public schools will have more operating funds than at any time in the state’s history:
— In addition to base funding from the state, University of West Florida will see $12.4 million in supplemental program funds to meet critical workforce education needs, veterans and military support, aviation education, economic development and research and an additional $4 million in supplemental operational support.
— The National Flight Academy in Pensacola is budgeted for $1.5 million to expand its instructional and lab space.
— Environmental projects funded include $1 million to upgrade the Innerarity Water & Sewer system; $200,000 for the Jay drinking water system and $2.75 million for Navarre Beach renourishment.
Transportation, Housing and Economic Development
In transportation, the new Pensacola Bay Bridge dominates local projects in the five-year transportation workplan as it stands. All $505 million of that project is expected to be paid for by the state.
Also in the plan is $62 million is appropriated for widening and improving U.S. 98 in the Destin-South Walton area. Fort Walton Beach also gets $300,000 to build a center for the homeless.
Building Homes for Heroes, which builds houses for returning disabled soldiers, is slated to receive $1 million, repeating its funding from last year. State affordable funding policy is being changed to provide that a portion of all state-supported housing be designed, constructed and targeted so disabled citizens, including veterans, have greater opportunities for housing assistance.
Other items in plan include:
— $1.5 million for the Whiting Aviation Park.
— $688,173 for the City of Milton’s Riverwalk.
— $1 million for Project FOIL, an economic development project of the Pensacola Escambia Economic Development Commission.
— $3 million for Pensacola International Airport.
— $310,016 for a radio system in Santa Rosa for disaster preparedness.
In health care, Lakeview Center will receive $750,000 for mental health and substance abuse services for children.
— $1.2 million is appropriated for the Family Intensive Treatment Team, a regional mental health program operating in several Northwest Florida counties.
— ARC Gateway will be awarded $2 million for the PALS program to provide education and training to disabled young men and women through Pensacola State College.
— Escambia and Okaloosa County veterans courts are slated at $300,000.
— $1 million for construction and repairs related to efforts to replace the Escambia County jail.
— $50,000 for the Reentry Alliance Pensacola is appropriated $50,000.
— $735,840 for the expansion of the Juvenile Assessment Centers in Escambia and Bay counties.
— $50,000 for staircase restoration at the Pensacola Lighthouse.
— $194,000 to UWF’s Historic Trust for renovation projects.
— $109,289 to restore and preserve the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel Basilica Restoration and Preservation Project - $109,289
Cultural and Museum Grant Funding goes to:
| District | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | Increase | Percent Increase |
| Bay | $182,760,778 | $192,397,298 | $9,636,520 | 5.27% |
| Escambia | $271,767,718 | $279,884,266 | $8,116,548 | 2.99% |
| Holmes | $22,891,078 | $23,482,745 | $591,667 | 2.58% |
| Jackson | $45,556,592 | $46,415,727 | $859,135 | 1.89% |
| Okaloosa | $207,751,817 | $216,506,143 | $8,754,326 | 4.21% |
| Santa Rosa | $172,775,066 | $181,014,246 | $8,239,180 | 4.77% |
| Walton | $60,701,197 | $63,310,668 | $2,609,471 | 4.30% |
| Washington | $23,113,944 | $23,855,917 | $741,973 | 3.21% |
| Statewide | $18,904,733,636 | $19,684,640,277 | $779,906,641 | 4.13% |
| Project Title | County | Amount |
| Pensacola Little Theater Inc. | Escambia | $38,588 |
| The Greater Pensacola Symphony Orchestra | Escambia | $62,068 |
| Pensacola Opera Inc. | Escambia | $63,259 |
| The Pensacola MESS Hall, Inc. | Escambia | $11,877 |
| Pensacola Children's Chorus Inc. | Escambia | $44,516 |
| Pensacola Museum of Art | Escambia | $26,753 |
| The Choral Society of Pensacola | Escambia | $2,787 |
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