Manatee County wins $65M in state budget, but DeSantis vetoes $11M. Here’s what got cut
Gov. Ron DeSantis has slashed hundreds of funding requests, including some in Manatee County, that the Florida Legislature approved as part of the 2022 state budget.
More than $3 billion in appropriations were cut from Florida’s record $110 billion budget, DeSantis announced last week. Many of the Bradenton area’s requests were approved, but a few were on the chopping block.
Local cities and organizations are set to receive more than $65 million. Some of those projects include $23 million to purchase Rattlesnake Key, $7.5 million toward the expansion of Moccasin Wallow Road and $500,000 to improve Bradenton’s wastewater system.
In a veto message to Secretary of State Cord Byrd, DeSantis blamed the federal government’s policies under President Joe Biden for his decision to veto the largest amount of funds in the state’s history.
“While we are not, at the state level, responsible for the ramifications of ill-conceived federal policies, we have a responsibility to mitigate the negative impacts of those policies,” DeSantis wrote, noting that the $3.1 billion in vetoed funds will be returned to the state’s budget reserves “in the face of economic uncertainty.”
Speaking during a press conference Friday, DeSantis said he cut budget requests to keep the state’s budget under $110 billion. His choice to remove an item doesn’t mean the project doesn’t have merit, he explained.
But in Manatee County, DeSantis cut four requests for funding, totaling $10.7 million, leaving some local officials searching for other ways to secure the money:
Underground power lines in Bradenton Beach
On Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach is susceptible to strong winds and wave action that can knock down power lines, cutting power to residents, visitors and businesses.
“Falling tree limbs, high winds and heavy storms are just a few of the things that frequently cause utility disruptions and destroy overhead lines,” Bradenton Beach staffers wrote in their request for $3 million toward the project. “Burying lines eliminates weather-related power outages and provides more reliable service and greater resiliency.”
The city’s request also noted that the Florida Department of Transportation plans to redesign Gulf Drive, but the existing power lines need to be removed first.
In addition to making the city more resilient against severe weather, putting the power lines underground would free up enough room on the road for Bradenton Beach to build an expanded walkway that stretches from Bridge Street to Coquina Park.
Bradenton Beach has been exploring the possibility of underground power lines since 2017. So far, the city already secured $3 million to bury about ⅓ of the city’s power lines.
Pedestrian bridge over U.S. 41 in Palmetto
The state budget also dealt a slight setback to Manatee County’s plans to build a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 41 that connects Lincoln Memorial Middle School and Lincoln Park in Palmetto.
Commissioner Reggie Bellamy views that bridge as a much-needed addition to the intersection at 17th Street West and U.S. 41, which sees frequent crashes. The county hopes to spend about $5 million to build a raised walkway to ensure safe passage.
“My concern is the public safety of the youth that are walking from the school and back to the neighborhood or to the new aquatic center,” said Bellamy, who shared that he was disappointed to hear about the governor’s veto. “When I learned that, it did take a blow for me.”
DeSantis vetoed the county’s request for $2.5 million toward the pedestrian crossing, but Bellamy says county officials remain committed to finding new ways to fund the project.
“I’ve been told no in my life many times, but that doesn’t mean that it’s over. We’re not the only project that was vetoed, but I have a responsibility to fight for the public safety of our community,” Bellamy explained.
Flooding mitigation in Holmes Beach
The city of Holmes Beach hoped to pull in $2 million for a flooding mitigation project that would allow the city to manage stormwater during storm events, leading to improvements in water quality.
Speaking with the Bradenton Herald, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said city officials were looking forward to the money to improve resilience on Anna Maria Island. The funds would have also allowed the city to treat stormwater before it is discharged into local waterways.
“Clean water is extremely important with these algae blooms that we’re starting to see out here,” Titsworth said. “It’s unfortunate, but we’re going to keep doing as much as we can as a small city do our part.”
‘Outstanding invoices’ for Piney Point’s emergency
State officials jumped in to pay for the emergency response to the Piney Point disaster in April 2021, when the former phosphate processing plant began spilling contaminated water into Tampa Bay.
The Florida Legislature committed $100 million to the closure of the site last year. Lawmakers moved earlier this year to spend $3.2 million to cover the cost of “outstanding invoices” related to last year’s emergency.
The reason for DeSantis’ veto was not immediately clear. A spokesperson for the governor’s office declined to comment on the specific budget veto Monday afternoon.
What does 2022 state budget include for Manatee County?
$23 million to acquire Rattlesnake Key Recreational Park
$21.5 million for a terminal expansion and baggage improvements at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
$7.5 million for the expansion of Moccasin Wallow Road
$5.5 million for the School District of Manatee’s Aviation Maintenance Technician School at SRQ Airport
$3 million for an Academic STEM Facility at USF Sarasota-Manatee
$1.28 million to redesign Pine Avenue in the city of Anna Maria
$1 million for a Science and Technology building at State College of Florida
$950k for a native oysters and clams restoration program in Manatee County
$900k toward replacing the Green Bridge Fishing Pier in Palmetto
$800k for the Town of Longboat Key’s underground sewer pipe repair
$500k for the city of Bradenton to improve its wastewater sewer system
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