Here's what Escambia projects got axed - or survived - the governor's budget veto pen

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

A majority of projects in Escambia County survived the governor's veto pen, with $52.5 million making the final cut.

The original $117 billion budget included $77 million in one-time spending for projects, organizations and programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. That was reduced to $71 million after the dust settled Thursday.

Across the state, $511 million was vetoed, bringing the final state budget to $116.5 billion. That's a far cry from 2022 when Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $4 billion.

State report: DeSantis signs $116.5 billion state budget, vetoes $511 million while ripping Washington

Here's a look at what made - and didn't make - the final budget after DeSantis' review.

Escambia County projects vetoed by DeSantis

  • $5 million - UWF Southside Residence Halls demolition - sponsored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola and Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze.

  • $200,000 - Pensacola Beach northern gateway design - sponsored by Broxson and Rep. Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach

  • $103,000 - Palafox Market Public Restrooms - sponsored by Chaney.

  • $593,000 - WUWF-FM Pensacola, replace obsolete backup generator - no listed sponsor.

  • $100,000 - WSRE-TV Pensacola, replace studio transmitter link - no listed sponsor.

End of the session: Florida Legislature's tough-edged session ends with budget, tax breaks and cultural scars

DeSantis v. Disney: GOP lawmakers give governor more muscle ahead of court fight

Escambia County projects included in final budget

Appropriations to construction projects at UWF make up the bulk of appropriation going to Escambia with $31.1 million going to the UWF campus. The funds include a new science and engineering research wing for $21.1 million and a new satellite utility plant for $10 million.

Here's a complete list:

  • $850,000 - Escambia County Gun Violence Reduction funding will be used to purchase ShotSpotter technology in Pensacola and Escambia County - sponsored by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola and Broxson.

  • $1.6 million - Flight Adventure Deck, A STEM to STAY Education and Scholarship Program - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $521,500 - National Flight Academy - sponsored by Andrade.

  • $500,000 - Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola Inc. for Escambia County - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $975,000 - Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) HVAC replacement - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $440,000 - Escambia County Gulf Beach Highway drainage and outfall project - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $7 million - PSC Career and Technical Charter Academy - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $1 million - Escambia County Fire Regional Training Facility - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $500,000 - Health and Hope Clinic Mental Health Wing - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $500,000 - Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $2.1 million - Lakeview Center Short-term Residential Treatment expansion - sponsored by Broxson

  • $15,500 - Escambia Search and Rescue response equipment - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $10 million - UWF satellite utilities plan phase 1 - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $21.1 million - UWF Science and Engineering Research Wing - sponsored by Broxson.

  • $500,000 - Pensacola Interstate Fair livestock barn restoration - sponsored by Salzman.

  • $130,626 - Lakeview Center Student Workforce Development Program - sponsored by Salzman.

  • $750,000 - Nonie's Place Children's Therapy Center pilot program - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $628,500 - Century Well No. 3 replacement - sponsored by Salzman.

  • $1.3 million - Town of Century Freedom Road Bridge replacement - sponsored by Salzman and Broxson.

  • $1.2 million - Brent Affordable Housing for workforce and active duty military through Pensacola Habitat for Humanity - sponsored by Broxson and Chaney.

  • $700,000 - Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Memorial Plaza - sponsored by Broxson.

  • $182,000 - NISSI Survivor Center - sponsored by Broxson.

  • $750,000 - Veterans Memorial Park Restroom and Education Center - sponsored by Chaney.

Projects for both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties - $6.1 million

Among the 44 local appropriation items passed in this year's budget, six projects provide services to both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. All of the items made the final budget.

  • $1.9 million - Northwest Florida estuary water quality protection and restoration - sponsored by Broxson.

  • $1 million - Blue Angels Foundation; Funding for post-traumatic stress protocol to reduce veteran suicide - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $143,000 - Brain Bag Early Literacy Program - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $1 million - Historic Pensacola preservation efforts in both counties - sponsored by Broxson and Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre.

  • $1.3 million - Community Land Trust: affordable housing in Northwest Florida for the workforce and active duty military through Pensacola Habitat for Humanity - sponsored by Broxson and Rep. Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach.

Here's what's in SB 1718: Florida House passes sweeping new immigration bill

Santa Rosa County - $13.2 million

All of the projects in the budget for Santa Rosa County totaling $13.2 million survived the governor's veto pen including $1 million for the Milton Riverwalk and $1.5 million for taxiway upgrades at Whiting Aviation Park.

The city of Gulf Breeze also picked up a win out of the session with $2.3 million approved for a new pedestrian overpass over U.S. Highway 98.

  • $2.5 million - Andrews Institute regenerative medicine research - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $150,000 - Re-Entry Alliance of Pensacola Inc. for Santa Rosa County - sponsored by Rudman and Broxson.

  • $1.5 million - District 1 Medical Examiners Facility Planning, Design and Construction - sponsored by Andrade and Broxson.

  • $1 million - Milton Riverwalk South - sponsored by Rudman and Broxson.

  • $500,000 - Milton Community Center expansion project - sponsored by Rudman and Broxson.

  • $500,000 - Milton Locklin Lake restoration project phase two - sponsored by Rudman and Broxson.

  • $1.5 million - Whiting Aviation Park taxiway and apron construction - sponsored by Rudman and Broxson.

  • $1 million - Woodbine Road and U.S. 90 intersection improvements - sponsored by Rudman and Broxson.

  • $141,476 - Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District fire vessel - sponsored by Rudman.

  • $2.3 million - Gulf Breeze shared-use overpass - sponsored by Broxson and Chaney.

  • $2.1 million - University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension West Florida student dorms in Jay - sponsored by Broxson.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia County projects in Florida 2023 budget survived Desantis veto