Jason Delgado
The Legislature plans to spend roughly $644.9 million on public education capital outlay projects (PECO) in the 2021-2022 state budget.
PECO funds are dollars awarded to public schools, community colleges, and universities for capital needs such as building repair, renovation, and construction.
The latest award towers over the previous year’s allocation of $354 million, reflecting the anticipated infusion of federal relief dollars into the state budget. President Joe Biden signed the federal relief bill last month.
In all, budget chiefs plan to award $243.7 million in PECO cash toward projects and more than $401.2 million in general revenue.
The general revenue, Senate budget chief Kelli Stargel said, is contingent upon the American Rescue Plan.
“We don’t know exactly what we’re going to be getting from the federal government,” Stargel said. “That’s why this is called a contingency plan.”
Notably, lawmakers don’t know when they may receive the funds either.
Charter schools stand to rake in the most under the latest agreement. They’re slated to collect more than $183.4 million for maintenance projects.
University projects, meanwhile, will take in $112.9 million — $95.5 million of which is contingent upon general revenue. Among the projects, Florida State University’ College of Business is lined up to receive $17 million in general revenue.
The funding comes as the Tallahassee-based university works to replace outgoing President John Thrasher, himself a former House Speaker.
Speculation says Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran is a contender for the position. Speaking to POLITICO Florida this month, Corcoran stopped short of confirming or denying interest.
“It would be an amazing honor, but right now we’re focused on having a strong close to our school year and having a great session,” he told POLITICO Florida.
The budget proposal also offers $644.9 million for state college projects — more than $243.7 million of which is PECO dollars.
Pasco-Hernando State College is slated to receive the most college funding. It is booked to collect $25 million to construct a Student Success and Community Engagement Center.
Meanwhile, negotiators came to an agreement on how to appropriate more than $221 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to non-public schools and nearly $41 million in federal aid to the Department of Education to provide wraparound services to homeless children and enroll them in school.
More funding details are available below.
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The News Service of Florida contributed to this post. Republished with permission.
