NEWS

DeSantis slashes $5 million for projects in Bay County

Jacqueline Bostick
jbostick@pcnh.com
The News Herald

PANAMA CITY — In his state budget press conference Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $1 billion in vetoes to pad Florida's $6.3 reserves and bolster efforts to fight the coronavirus health crisis.

Included in the cuts were funding for Bay County and Panama City infrastructure projects and revenue loss for Gulf Coast State College — all of which are related to impacts of Hurricane Michael.

"We are in uncertain times and we are in times that we did not see were coming around the corner when we were building the budget to begin with. The governor did what was necessary to relieve some of the pressure on the budget and make sure that we have substantial reserves moving forward," said Rep. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City), who authored local bills along with Sen. George Gainer (R-Panama City).

Trumbull said he believes the governor's office and the state legislature continues to retain a "soft spot" for areas hit hard by Hurricane Michael.

"Hurricane Michael coupled with COVID is a one-two-punch that just makes it difficult for municipalities and cities to survive. I'm proud of the fact that Bay County did not raise taxes, was really hoping to get those dollars in this last session," Trumbull said. "That said, there's always next session and, Lord willing, we will not see another hurricane in the state of Florida this year," he added. "I do think there is still a soft spot in the governor's office, I know that there is in the House and the Senate, a soft spot for Northwest Florida's Hurricane Michael dealt hand."

On the list was a request for $950,000 to help repair the Military Point Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility at Tyndall Air Force Base that suffered $22 million of damages of which the county is responsible to pay 5%. The county operates the facility and shares ownership with Parker, Springfield, and Callaway.

"We would have loved to see that project stay in the budget, but, however, given the economic climate that we're in and the fiscal restraints that the governor is under, we certainly understand," said Bay County Utility Services Director Ben Blitch, noting the state and feds have been faithful regarding to Hurricane Michael. "There will still be other opportunities for funding."

The governor also vetoed a line item of $500,000 to relocate Millville's wastewater treatment plant and $600,000 to remove and relocate an exposed sewer line in St. Andrews Bay.

"We were very grateful the state legislature had approved both of those and made it in their budget recommendations to the governor," said Panama City Manager Mark McQueen. "Sadly the two projects that the city had that were recommended for funding by the state legislature did make the governor's veto list. That's disheartening."

While moving the Millville plant away from Watson Bayou is "a city objective," the St. Andrews sewer line has potential to become "an ecological disaster," therefore very high on the list of the city's priorities.

"Now, with the veto, the city is going to have to look at how we can get the sewer line safe so that we don't have an ecological disaster," McQueen said, noting DeSantis is clearly concerned about the health of the state's natural environment.

"We've got to look at how do we do this with the limited resources the city has available," he added.

DeSantis also struck out $2 million to replace Building 12 at Gulf Coast State College's STEM building and $750,000 to replace revenue loss due to the impact of Hurricane Michael.

GCSC President John Holdnak was not available for comment Monday or Tuesday. Both Blitch and McQueen said they respected the governor's budget decisions.

"We're not extremely disappointed, we understand those financial constraints that the state has and we appreciate them and the governor's fiscal responsibility," Blitch said, noting the county will look internally and externally to cover the project. "We're just very appreciative that the governor, the state, and the federal government has done for us so far."

"The governor was placed in a very difficult situation trying to balance the budget," McQueen said. "The legislature approved the budget just before COVID-19 took place, there were very different economic projections and outcomes were expected when the legislature formulated the plan."

The vetoes of local projects was "disappointing, but I totally understand what the governor was faced with," McQueen he said later. "COVID-19 is having a great financial impact ... and we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg."

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