Scott Powers
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen scratched out at least 35 line items that almost benefited from last-minute deals made by legislative budget leaders as they made supplemental appropriations. These last minute budget items are referred to by Capitol insider as part of “the sprinkle list.”
In some cases, DeSantis vetoed not only the sprinkle amounts, but additional appropriations for the same programs found elsewhere in the budget.
The results: No, the BRIDG high-tech manufacturing center being nurtured by Osceola County and the University of Central Florida is not getting the $4.5 million House budget leaders sprinkled on it in a late supplemental appropriation, nor is it getting another $1.5 million listed elsewhere in the 2019-20 Florida state budget.
No, the Belle Glade Community Recreation Center is not getting $3 million sprinkled on it by the Senate, nor another $250,000 that was programmed elsewhere in the budget bill approved by the Legislature.
No, the Marine Research Hub of South Florida is not getting the $250,000 sprinkled on it by the Senate, nor another $250,000 provided elsewhere in the state budget.
Overall, DeSantis vetoed $131 million before signing the rest of the now $90.9 billion budget.
That included vetoes of money for 20 items that had received late supplemental appropriations for $13.3 million from Senate budget leaders and another 15 that had been briefly blessed to a total of $10.3 million by House budget leaders.
With additional money cut for those 35 programs, DeSantis sliced $30.2 million from them overall.
Besides the BRIDG and Belle Glade items, the top sprinkle cuts were:
— The University of Florida Lastinger Center Developmentally Appropriate Emergency Response program, which lost the $2 million supplemental appropriation the Senate offered.
— The University of North Florida’s Roy Lassiter Hall renovations, set to receive a $2 million sprinkle from the Senate.
— $1.2 million for a statewide regional evacuation study.
— $1 million for the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Center.
4 comments
Tim Mahoney
June 21, 2019 at 11:27 pm
What – specifically – was the Belle Glade money for? What was the Community Center’s plans for the money? Was the money for at risk children? Seniors? Athletics? Who inserted the appropriation into the budget? Why? Is that representative upset?
Belle Glade is full of poor black Democrats. Our Republican Governor just vetoed their money. It’s almost like he’s daring the media to take a look.
So…..media, take a look.
Tim Mahoney
June 21, 2019 at 11:38 pm
One more thing – the story could inventory some of the sprinkles that didn’t get cut that benefited similar or novel programs in predominantly white republican districts – possibly by I4 or North Florida. Just my two cents
Nick iaffaldano
June 23, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Were the ones who pay taxes cry baby
Tim Mahoney
June 23, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Riiiigghhhtttt… but most appropriations weren’t vetoed. So the question is – why were these appropriations vetoed? That’s what journalists are supposed to do. You my friend, may be a little dim.
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