Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed nearly $8.6 million in Sarasota-Manatee projects from the new state budget, with infrastructure and public safety taking the biggest hits.
The largest local cuts affected North Port, Palmetto and East Manatee. Other vetoed items struck Sarasota County water quality work, arts programs and juvenile justice services.
The largest veto was $2.5 million for the North Port Solid Waste Transfer Station, requested by Sen. Joe Gruters and Rep. James Buchanan. The money would have supported a transfer station meant to help North Port manage solid waste more safely and efficiently as the city faces growth pressure. The Senate request described the overall project as a $15 million effort, with local funding covering most of the cost.
DeSantis also vetoed $2 million for Palmetto water meter backflow upgrades, requested by Sen. Jim Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson. The project aims to replace existing water meters and backflow prevention devices with newer equipment meant to improve meter accuracy, system efficiency and water safety.
Several public safety and emergency preparedness projects were also cut.
The Governor vetoed just over $891,000 for the East Manatee Fire Rescue Station 9 HAWK beacon system, a pedestrian safety signal requested by Gruters and Rep. Bill Conerly.
He also cut $400,000 for North Port Emergency Operations Center (EOC) outfitting requested by Gruters and Buchanan. The requested funds will be used to provide the furnishings, fixtures, and equipment necessary to fully outfit the EOC.
Senior services were also affected. DeSantis vetoed $790,000 for Senior Friendship Centers’ elevator replacement project, requested by Gruters and McFarland. The Sarasota nonprofit sought the money to replace four commercial elevators installed in the 1980s at two senior campuses.
The vetoes were included in DeSantis’ June 29 budget transmittal, where he approved a $117.6 billion spending plan after more than $1.6 billion in vetoes.
DeSantis also vetoed several Sarasota County water, storm and hurricane-related projects.
The veto list includes $600,000 for hurricane repairs at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, requested by Gruters and Rep. Fiona McFarland. The Senate request said Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged critical infrastructure on the museum’s bayfront campus, including the seawall, pedestrian walkway, balusters, royal palm trees and the terrace at Ca’ d’Zan.
DeSantis also vetoed $520,000 for the Sarasota County/North Port Emergency Water Main Interconnect, requested by Gruters and Buchanan. The funds would have supported an emergency potable water interconnection system between Sarasota County and North Port, allowing water to move between the two systems during disasters and water supply disruptions.
The Governor also cut $250,000 for Sarasota County’s Little Sarasota Bay Water Quality Phase II project, which is tied to Midnight Pass monitoring and management. The request was made by Gruters and Buchanan, and the funding would support continued study, planning, regulatory coordination and preliminary engineering needed to keep Midnight Pass open.
Other local vetoes included $350,000 for Teen Court of Sarasota’s juvenile pre-arrest delinquency citation expansion requested by Gruters and Buchanan, and $250,000 for Venice Theatre Education Studios requested by Gruters and McFarland.
The transmittal letter does not provide project-by-project explanations for each veto, but said the savings promote a healthy bottom line.
“With today’s vetoes totaling $1.7 billion, including nearly $810 million in line-item vetoes, our state reserves will be at a healthy $17.8 billion, up from just $11 billion in 2019,” DeSantis wrote.
The post Gov. DeSantis vetoes nearly $8.6M in Sarasota-Manatee infrastructure, public safety, senior services appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..