Budget conference: House and Senate agree on funding for Camp Blanding
Guarded: Florida National Guard ranks are a little thin.

Military men
The funding allocation still falls short on several of the Governor's budget recommendations.

Update – 6/3 -8:58 p.m. – In its first offer back, the Senate matched the House funding allocation, and the item was closed out.

___

After spending more than a month negotiating the state budget, the Florida House and Senate remain at odds over specific funding allocations.

In an initial round of budget offers, the House has allocated $16.45 million to maintain Camp Blanding’s Level II compliance standards, while the Senate did not allocate any funding at all.

Located near Starke, in Clay County, Camp Blanding is the state’s primary training site for most of the Florida National Guard’s military units and was a major U.S. Army training facility during World War II, after it was established as a state-owned training reservation in 1939.

Today, Camp Blanding covers 73,000 acres and provides resources to enhance joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational training. It further serves as a support base during emergency operations.

The military site also operates under the executive branch of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who recommended allocating $75 million in nonrecurring General Revenue funds specifically to maintain its Level II compliance in his “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget, released from his office in February.

The Governor’s budget earmarks $75 million to support phase three of a 4-year construction project to ensure the Florida National Guard’s Joint Training Center meets the requirements to retain its current Level II status after two major deficiencies were identified — bed spaces and maneuver live-fire ranges.

DeSantis notes in his budget justification that the project will keep the camp in compliance and further notes that the remaining two phases are set to cost approximately $413.7 million to complete.

The Governor also requested an additional $25 million to fund the creation of a mission training complex, which would support the first year of a two-year, $54 million project. A mission training complex includes simulation courses and infantry battle courses and is required for states with a Brigade Combat Team, such as Florida’s 53rd Infantry.

The House further allocated $3 million in funding for the Readiness Center Revitalization and Modernization Program (REVAMP) to support major renovations at three of the 63 Florida National Guard Readiness Center sites across Florida.

While the House offer fell short of DeSantis’ $5.49 million budget recommendation, the Senate left its funding out entirely.

Andrew Powell

Andrew Powell is a 10-year veteran in the media, having a successful career that has ranged from politics to sports to entertainment. However, Andrew has a special love for Florida politics and anything Sunshine State, which has brought him to this point in his career. Powell's work has been featured in many publications including The Center Square covering Florida legislative sessions, The Daily Caller covering sports, and Independent Journal Review covering news and politics. You can reach Andrew at [email protected].


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, Liam Fineout, A.G. Gancarski, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Andrew Powell, Jesse Scheckner, Janelle Taylor, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704