Volusia-Flagler lawmakers to make cases for state funds

Sunday
Jan 7, 2018 at 5:10 PM Jan 7, 2018 at 5:10 PM

Mark Harper @markharper36

When the Legislature convenes Tuesday in Tallahassee, billions of dollars will be up for grabs among the 160 — minus a few — House members and Senators.

The state budget, set last year at $82.4 billion, is a task facing lawmakers every year, so the men and women representing Volusia and Flagler counties head to the Capitol with nearly $100 million in appropriations requests. There are many more projects sought than these, but here's a by-the-numbers look at a few with local interest:

$87.4 billion: This is the starting point, Gov. Rick Scott's proposed spending plan. State Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast and a future House speaker, said damage caused by Hurricane Irma in September will cut significantly into what had been projected as a $52 million budget surplus. "It will be challenging," Renner said. "Irma took us from a break-even to a budget that's a slight deficit. ... That requires priorities."

$1,627,500: Money requested for Flagler Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements. Renner and Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, both made the request on behalf of the city, which needs to upgrade the plant to improve its output, the biosolids that are created from the waste and recycled as fertilizer for plants. City Manager Larry Newsom said the lawmakers had been able to get $450,000 into last year's budget only to see Gov. Rick Scott veto the project in a "political flexing of muscles." Regardless of how much state funding becomes available, the small city will be proceeding with the project, he said. "We don't have a choice," Newsom said, adding that the state Department of Environmental Protection won't let the city ignore the issue.

$2.3 million: Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, made a request on behalf of Stetson University, which is looking to expand its DaVinci Literacy Arts for Title 1 Schools program. "The DaVinci is a proven successful program. They've piloted it at local schools and are looking to expand it statewide at willing participating schools," Santiago said. It's a reading tutoring program that also got funded in 2017 only to be excised from the budget because of a clerical error, Santiago said.

$65,000: This covers the cost of equipment, jerseys and educational materials for the nonprofit Daytona Beach Pop Warner Bucs, a request sought by Rep. Patrick Henry, D-Daytona Beach. The program, which helps more than 200 grade and high school students, includes an educational component. In a state document, Thomas Roland, the requestor, explains: "The existence of this program provides positive influences on the children and allows them to see models of possibility, which encourages them to stray away from trouble." 

$1.7 million: Henry, who didn't return a call last week, also filed for funding for the new First Step Homeless Shelter primarily backed by Daytona Beach and Volusia County.

$350,000: Daytona State College has several requests, including this for equipment that would support a new optician technology program. Santiago said the program will help put people into good careers.

$8 million: This would help cover the cost of widening Williamson Boulevard in Daytona Beach, as sought by Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, who calls it a public infrastructure project sought for many years. The project would widen the road from two to four lanes between Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach, and is north of the rapidly expanding LPGA corridor just east of Interstate 95. "(Last year it) passed the House and the Senate, only to be vetoed by the Governor. If you think about the residential and commercial development occurring in west Daytona, you’ll very quickly realize why this is necessary,” Leek said in a written statement.

$1 million: Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, is requesting funding for the construction of an access road that will create jobs and ease transportation concerns at the DeLand Northwest Industrial Business Park. She's also put in a request for $825,000 to help cover the construction of a light sport aviation village project.

$1.35 million: Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, says he will be requesting money to help Oak Hill fix its septic problem. Leaky septics have contributed to the water quality of the Mosquito Lagoon, and Simmons said he is intending the money to help a local government design and engineer a solution to a regional problem. "Oak Hill has a serious issue," Simmons said. "They're sitting in their own sewage. It's not a nice picture. It's one that needs solving."

 

 

Sunday
Jan 7, 2018 at 5:10 PM Jan 7, 2018 at 5:10 PM

Mark Harper @markharper36

When the Legislature convenes Tuesday in Tallahassee, billions of dollars will be up for grabs among the 160 — minus a few — House members and Senators.

The state budget, set last year at $82.4 billion, is a task facing lawmakers every year, so the men and women representing Volusia and Flagler counties head to the Capitol with nearly $100 million in appropriations requests. There are many more projects sought than these, but here's a by-the-numbers look at a few with local interest:

$87.4 billion: This is the starting point, Gov. Rick Scott's proposed spending plan. State Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast and a future House speaker, said damage caused by Hurricane Irma in September will cut significantly into what had been projected as a $52 million budget surplus. "It will be challenging," Renner said. "Irma took us from a break-even to a budget that's a slight deficit. ... That requires priorities."

$1,627,500: Money requested for Flagler Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements. Renner and Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, both made the request on behalf of the city, which needs to upgrade the plant to improve its output, the biosolids that are created from the waste and recycled as fertilizer for plants. City Manager Larry Newsom said the lawmakers had been able to get $450,000 into last year's budget only to see Gov. Rick Scott veto the project in a "political flexing of muscles." Regardless of how much state funding becomes available, the small city will be proceeding with the project, he said. "We don't have a choice," Newsom said, adding that the state Department of Environmental Protection won't let the city ignore the issue.

$2.3 million: Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona, made a request on behalf of Stetson University, which is looking to expand its DaVinci Literacy Arts for Title 1 Schools program. "The DaVinci is a proven successful program. They've piloted it at local schools and are looking to expand it statewide at willing participating schools," Santiago said. It's a reading tutoring program that also got funded in 2017 only to be excised from the budget because of a clerical error, Santiago said.

$65,000: This covers the cost of equipment, jerseys and educational materials for the nonprofit Daytona Beach Pop Warner Bucs, a request sought by Rep. Patrick Henry, D-Daytona Beach. The program, which helps more than 200 grade and high school students, includes an educational component. In a state document, Thomas Roland, the requestor, explains: "The existence of this program provides positive influences on the children and allows them to see models of possibility, which encourages them to stray away from trouble." 

$1.7 million: Henry, who didn't return a call last week, also filed for funding for the new First Step Homeless Shelter primarily backed by Daytona Beach and Volusia County.

$350,000: Daytona State College has several requests, including this for equipment that would support a new optician technology program. Santiago said the program will help put people into good careers.

$8 million: This would help cover the cost of widening Williamson Boulevard in Daytona Beach, as sought by Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, who calls it a public infrastructure project sought for many years. The project would widen the road from two to four lanes between Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach, and is north of the rapidly expanding LPGA corridor just east of Interstate 95. "(Last year it) passed the House and the Senate, only to be vetoed by the Governor. If you think about the residential and commercial development occurring in west Daytona, you’ll very quickly realize why this is necessary,” Leek said in a written statement.

$1 million: Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, is requesting funding for the construction of an access road that will create jobs and ease transportation concerns at the DeLand Northwest Industrial Business Park. She's also put in a request for $825,000 to help cover the construction of a light sport aviation village project.

$1.35 million: Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, says he will be requesting money to help Oak Hill fix its septic problem. Leaky septics have contributed to the water quality of the Mosquito Lagoon, and Simmons said he is intending the money to help a local government design and engineer a solution to a regional problem. "Oak Hill has a serious issue," Simmons said. "They're sitting in their own sewage. It's not a nice picture. It's one that needs solving."

 

 

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