Santa Rosa County's nearly $250 million budget for 2023 funds 36 infrastructure projects

Alex Miller, Pensacola News Journal
·4 min read

Santa Rosa County's budget is set to increase by almost $57 million next year and include a significant investment in infrastructure projects.

The tentative budget for next year is set to sit at $249.3 million, compared to the $192.6 million budget for the current year. County staff previously presented budget information to county commissioners in a workshop earlier this year, but since those discussions, the tentative budget has grown about $34 million mainly due to increased infrastructure funding from American Rescue Plan Act commitments and capital fund commitments.

Since the list of capital projects was originally presented to the commissioners, it has been narrowed down to 36 capital improvement projects totaling $28.6 million.

"We presented over 149 projects to (the commissioners) in June … and we had a lot of staff changes during that time," county Deputy Budget Director Sabrina White told commissioners Tuesday morning.

Major projects

Several of the major projects for next year include:

  • Signalization and turn lane intersection improvements ($1 million)

  • Installing sidewalk and pedestrian paths ($1 million)

  • A new roundabout at the intersection of Giddens Lane and West Spencer Field Road and a traffic light at another location on West Spencer Field ($1 million)

  • Improvements at the U.S. 90 and Woodbine Road intersection ($5 million)

  • Widening of Bergren Road ($2.3 million)

  • Design of a consolidated public safety dispatch center ($1.5 million)

  • Drainage analysis to identify inadequate drainage in Floridatown area ($1 million)

  • Channel restoration as part of Holley By the Sea drainage improvements ($2.5 million)

  • Drainage retrofitting at the Ashley Plantation subdivision ($3 million)

  • A culvert rehabilitation project aimed at refurbishing existing culverts ($1.1 million)

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"I've been howling about infrastructure for 20 years. This is the largest expenditure in the history of Santa Rosa County in a single year," county resident Jerry Couey said at the county's budget presentation Tuesday evening.

Budget increase mostly focused on infrastructure

County Budget Director Jayne Nicholas said at the Tuesday presentation that, with the exception of money allocated to the Sheriff's Office and an employee salary pay plan, most of the budget's increase has focused on infrastructure spending.

"We substantially increased funding for infrastructure (in 2023), and there is an increase for public safety," Nicholas said. "This budget includes a salary pay plan, and there are (cost of living adjustment) increases in this budget."

As the county plans to tackle all 36 projects for next year, White said staff will meet late September or early October to discuss how to go about accomplishing everything.

"So that way, the commissioners, as well as the citizens, have a clear expectation of how we're going to tackle these projects," White said. "It's exciting times in Santa Rosa County."

Commission to keep same millage rate

The commissioners are opting to maintain the same millage rate of 6.09 mills for next year, as opposed to a "rolled-back" rate of 5.51 mills, which would have yielded the same amount of revenue for 2022 and 2023.

"The good news is we've got more money this time. And the other good news is we're going to keep the millage rate from going up," said Commissioner James Calkins. "We're also taking care of our employees and we're also taking care of public safety."

Commissioner Sam Parker tossed around the idea of potentially asking residents vote on whether to utilize a half-cent sales tax strictly to fund roads.

In 2016, voters approved a half-cent sales tax for infrastructure improvements. But in 2019, Santa Rosa County voted down a half-cent sales tax increase, with more than two-thirds of voters casting ballots against upping the tax to a full penny.

"We've got money going into lots of infrastructure plans right now," Calkins said.

The final county budget hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 20 in the commission's board room at 6495 Caroline St. in Milton.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Santa Rosa 2023 budget: $250 million to fund infrastructure projects