Gray Rohrer
Lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Budget Commission last month approved $175 million for 238 local projects. But Gov. Ron DeSantis has essentially put a freeze on those funds, halting the money from being distributed.
The budget signed by DeSantis authorizing the Local Support Grants states “the Executive Office of the Governor shall submit an Administered Funds budget amendment no later than September 30, 2022, to distribute the funds for Local Support Grants to the appropriate state agencies for disbursement.”
DeSantis, though, hasn’t sent that budget amendment, placing the funds on hold.
On Sept. 23, one week before the deadline to submit the amendment, DeSantis issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency due to a tropical depression that would later turn into Hurricane Ian, which battered the state and has left more than 100 people dead and devastation in its wake.
Florida law gives DeSantis broad powers in a state of emergency, including waiving laws and regulations to streamline response and recovery to a hurricane or other natural disaster. But it’s unclear why DeSantis hasn’t sanctioned disbursement of the Local Support Grant funds. A DeSantis spokeswoman didn’t respond to an email seeking comment Thursday.
Next week the LBC will meet to approve $360 million in new spending authority for hurricane recovery efforts.
But the $175 million the same panel approved last month will remain on hold. A spokeswoman for House Speaker Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican, didn’t return an email Thursday.
Some of the projects were similar to projects vetoed by DeSantis when he took action on the state’s $109 billion budget. The largest Local Support Grant would send $15 million to the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus for a flood hub and applied research facility. DeSantis vetoed $75 million in the budget for USF’s Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences Research and Training facility.
7 comments
Paul Passarelli
October 6, 2022 at 5:32 pm
Democrats love the smell & taste of PORK. But when the waiter comes around and says it’s time to pay for the meal, it’s always the Democrats who become indignant.
If those projects are nearly as valuable as the Democrats made then seem when they were parceling out State funds, then the locals who were to benefit from the largess should happily pony up the cash to pay for the projects — ***IF*** the return on investment is as good as they were claiming.
Charlie Crist
October 6, 2022 at 6:13 pm
You just pay your taxes..otherwise we come after more of your gd money. You gonna pay for electing a far right mad man, far right crook, far right hate monger. Conservatism is not the future of humanity therefore maintain low tones or continue to suffer the consequences. Already you people have it coming. Don’t make it worse.
Cheri Placzkowski
October 6, 2022 at 7:30 pm
We damn sure don’t want your has been ass.
Joe Corsin
October 6, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Somebody report Paul Pizza and Cheri to the FBI as possible Russian government trolls, Russian government influencers, Russian government assets.
Linda
October 17, 2022 at 11:33 pm
Don’t you recognize satire? It’s not the former governor.
Yrral
October 6, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Maybe they should invest money in weather waves buoy,so thousands of people will not get swept away in the next hurricane buoy,they cost less than 10 thousands dollars Google Weather Wave Measuring Buoy
pete aliman
October 7, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Do you not understand that Florida Legislature is controlled by REPUBLICANS/???
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