New State Budget Funds Millions In Escambia Projects

June 22, 2015

The 2016 state budget includes an estimated $700 million for Northwest Florida education, transportation, economic development, environmental and cultural projects, according to Sen. Don Gaetz.

On average, public school districts will see more than a 4 percent increase in total funding.  Per student funding will increase by $207 to $7096.96.  In 2016, Northwest Florida public schools will have more operating funds than at any time in the state’s history:

Escambia County will see a 2.99% increase in funding from $271,767,718 to $279,884,266, while Santa Rosa County will see an increase of 4.77% funding increase from $172,775,066 to $181,014,246.

In addition,  the National Flight Academy in Pensacola is budgeted for $1.5 million to expand its instructional and lab space to serve more students. And in addition to continuing base funding from the state, the University of West Florida will benefit from $12.4 million in supplemental program funds to meet critical workforce education needs, veterans and military support, aviation education, economic development and research and an additional $4 million in supplemental operational support.

Groundbreaking could occur as soon as next year on a new three-mile bridge linking Gulf Breeze and Pensacola at a cost of $505 million, all of which will be paid for by the state.

Overall, $1.9 billion is appropriated in the workplan for transportation infrastructure improvements in Northwest Florida in the next five years. The Pensacola airport will receive $3 million, and the Muscogee Road Freight Corridor will receive $1 million.

Lakeview Center in Pensacola will receive $750,000 for mental health and substance abuse services for children. ARC Gateway will be awarded $2 million for the second year to provide innovative education and training to disabled young men and women.

In Escambia County, the booking and detention facility will receive $1 million for construction and repairs.  Bethel Empowerment Foundation Reentry Program gets $400,000 and the Reentry Alliance Pensacola is appropriated $50,000.  Second Chance Outreach Reentry and Education Development receives $150,000.  Expansion of the Juvenile Assessment Centers in Escambia and Bay counties is allocated $735,840.

The Pensacola Lighthouse Association will receive $50,000 for staircase renovations, and the UWF Historic Trust will receive $194,000 for the Historic Pensacola Restoration and Preservation Project.

Several Escambia County cultural projects will also receive funding:

  • Pensacola Little Theater Inc. Escambia $38,588
  • The Greater Pensacola Sympony Orchestra Escambia $62,068
  • Pensacola Opera Inc. Escambia $63,259
  • The Pensacola MESS Hall, Inc. Escambia $11,877
  • Pensacola Children’s Chorus Inc. Escambia $44,516
  • Pensacola Museum of Art Escambia $26,753
  • The Choral Society of Pensacola Escambia $2,787

Gov. Rick Scott has until June 30 to sign or veto any spending item.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News