$155 million in state budget to accommodate growth, quality of life in Volusia, Flagler

When state lawmakers vote Friday on a record $117 billion budget, they will also deliver the goods for their communities − some more than others.

That's because in addition to funding the state government agencies, representatives and senators are allowed to request special appropriations. And Palm Coast and the rest of Flagler County will receive more than $86 million to improve roads, fire stations and more.

It's a windfall that coincides with the leadership of House Speaker Paul Renner, who calls Palm Coast home, and Rep. Tom Leek, his appropriations chair from Ormond Beach.

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"As the area’s most populous and rapidly growing city, Palm Coast has tremendous infrastructure needs that must be addressed in order to accommodate current and future populations," Renner said in a statement provided to The News-Journal on Thursday. "Our committees and staff were diligent in prioritizing the most urgent needs of this state, recognizing that not all funding requests can or should be granted. For the City of Palm Coast, we’ve funded road projects to ensure that residents and visitors can move safely through the area, congestion-free, and we’ve made critical investments in public safety."

In all, Volusia and Flagler counties will land more than $155 million for more than 50 projects. The projects that are in the budget are expected to be approved Friday but must also survive scrutiny by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has line-item veto power.

Here is a look at what's in the budget.

Palm Coast, Flagler County get funds for roads and fire stations

The Matanzas Woods Parkway extension west will open 12,000 acres for development within Palm Coast's borders, according to the request from the city. Where Palm Coast asked for $12 million, it got $25 million.

Matanzas Woods Parkway’s extension west will end just shy of the Florida East Coast Railway tracks, where another phase will require a bridge.

“It’s the first key that unlocks the property to be improved and the master-planned western expansion. Vital is the right word,” Mayor David Alfin said.

The city had also sought $40 million for the subsequent phase extending the parkway another 2.5 miles west of the railroad tracks.

Palm Coast also received $18.4 million for the widening from two to four lanes of a 1.5-mile stretch of Old Kings Road between Kings Way and Farnum Lane, plus $500,000 to design four miles of bicycle-pedestrian trails along Old Kings and a drainage scheme to mitigate the potential for hurricane flooding.

The budget also includes $5 million for Palm Coast to replace 45-year-old Fire Station 22 and another $5 million to construct a new Fire Station 26.

Alfin said the money is a reward for the “hard work of staff and City Council members” working to “take advantage of a unique opportunity, which is our westward expansion.”

Other Flagler County projects included in the budget include:

• $4.5 million for Flagler Beach to remove and replace its hurricane-battered pier.

• $10 million for Flagler County to erect a combined fire administration building and fire station.

• $10 million for the county to partner with SMA Healthcare to build a behavioral health stabilization unit and residential treatment facility for men with substance abuse issues.

• $4.5 million for Bunnell to make improvements to its water treatment plant and distribution system.

• $3.3 million for Daytona State College to add a lit pedestrian walkway and a two-lane roadway to its Palm Coast campus, where it will also extend the amphitheater roof to provide more covered space for events.

Education investments

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University landed $15 million to build a new, 45,000 square-foot Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or SCIF, at its research park. It "will be designed with large, complex industry and Department of Defense projects in mind, providing for opportunities to collaborate with industry, various government agencies and strengthen the ability for students to work on obtaining security clearances," according to the request.

• ERAU also got $5 million for equipment at its research park.

• Daytona State College received $4.8 million for a tactical training pavilion and training course at its law enforcement and emergency services training center on the DeLand campus.

• DSC got $650,000 for a database security system and $550,000 to modernize its auto collision facility for automotive repair students.

• Volusia County Schools landed $250,000 for a program targeting low-scoring middle-school students.

East Volusia projects

Ormond Beach, home to House Appropriations Chair Leek, landed $11 million, the most funding of all Volusia County cities, starting with $5.35 million for a new pump station and force main.

Also, Ormond received:

• $783,059 for a downtown community center.

• $522,639 for a West Ormond recreational community center.

• $975,000 for a water main loop near Airport Road.

• $1.2 million for a water reuse reservoir.

• $750,000 for roadway and utilities to be extended to city-owned property, allowing for the Airport Road business park to be expanded.

• More than $1.4 million for the relocation of the police department and emergency operations center.

Other appropriations across East Volusia County include:

• Daytona Beach got $5 million to design an extension of Bellevue Avenue and $4.2 million to extend and enhance its water system.

• New Smyrna Beach received $1 million from the state budget to clean canals surrounding Pine Island and Aqua Golf, where some homeowners suffered 4 feet of storm surge during Tropical Storm Ian last September.

• Port Orange got $3.8 million for water and sewer projects.

• Holly Hill landed $1.36 million for a sewer service extension and $1.25 million to replace a fire station.

• South Daytona received $750,000 for a sewer system rehab.

• Oak Hill landed $3.5 million to help with extending water and sewer to a parcel it intends to purchase for the construction of a community center.

• Ponce Inlet received $62,500 for a storm drainage device and $55,000 for backup generators at its fire station, public works, and community center.

• Volusia Recovery Alliance Inc., which runs Freedom to Change, a program that promotes substance abuse recovery and wellness for women at the Volusia County Jail, received $96,000.

West Volusia projects

• DeBary's focus on improving Fort Florida Road, in a developing area near the SunRail commuter rail station, resulted in $1.5 million to reconstruct the road and $1 million to rebuild a bridge.

• Deltona got $2 million to expand its Eastern Wastewater Treatment facility, and another $1 million to convert its Fisher Wastewater Treatment plant to meet higher standards in removing nitrogen from effluent.

• DeLand got $500,000 to rehabilitate its homeless shelter, The Bridge.

• Orange City received $500,000 to help construct a new multipurpose rescue facility and $150,000 to replace its transportation and city works office.

• Seville got $450,000 to convert an old school into a community center.

• Volusia County landed $1 million for the Agricultural Center and Fairgrounds and another $1.4 million to improve utilities and protect Gemini Springs.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia, Flagler lawmakers bring home bacon: Millions for projects