Funding for two major Space Coast transportation projects was vetoed from Florida’s budget by the governor. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed $4.23 million of a proposed $10 million allocation for pre-construction activities for an Ellis Road widening project. That money would have come from the state’s transportation trust fund, according to Florida Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, who sponsored the Ellis Road funding proposal.
The other $5.77 million remains in the budget and comes from the state’s general revenue fund.
Main transportation needs: Roadwork Alert: These are the top priorities for improving Brevard’s highways and main roads
Sirois said the reduction in funding could extend the deadline for completing the $80 million project.
But Sirois added that he is pleased that $5.77 million remains for the project in the newly signed 2024-25 budget. He said he would work to secure more funding in the next budget year as well.
DeSantis also vetoed $5 million to modernize operating facilities at Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
Among other Brevard County projects that fell victim to the governor’s $949.6 million statewide vetoes were:
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$2.5 million for an Agricultural Technical Operations Program at Astronaut High School in Titusville.
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$1.75 million for renovations at the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center in Cocoa.
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$668,000 for the Inspiring and Developing the Future of Florida’s Aerospace Workforce Program for grades K-12 at Kennedy Space Center.
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$650,000 for the second phase of a Cape Canaveral Light Station reconstruction project.
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$600,000 for a Medal of Honor Tribute at Veterans Memorial Park on Merritt Island.
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$588,000 for a public safety complex and emergency operations center in Palm Bay, on a 13-acre city-owned site at the southwest intersection of Malabar Road and St. Louis.
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$55,000 for repairs and upgrades to the Sendler Education Outpost on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
What went into the budget
But a number of other Brevard County projects were part of the 2024-25 state budget, which totaled $116.5 billion.
This includes two major projects at local colleges – $10 million for an Advanced Technologies Center at Eastern Florida State College and $5 million for an Aerospace Cybersecurity Engineering Development project at the Florida Institute of Technology.
Other Brevard projects that received funding in the budget included these:
Economic development
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$11 million for the Operation New Hope Ready4Work Reentry Program (funding shared with Duval, Hillsborough, Orange and St. Johns Counties).
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$225,000 for a Manufacturing Talent Asset Pipeline program.
Education
Health
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$2.06 million for a state hospital diversion program at Circles of Care.
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$975,000 for a Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Program from Who We Play For.
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$650,000 for the Lifelong Counseling Center’s Thrive Within program.
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$300,000 for a Brevard program for Adults with Disabilities.
Housing
Public security
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$1.25 million for a Florida Police Education Initiative, a training program that would be based at the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum complex in Titusville.
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$316,000 for a domestic violence offender monitoring program (funding shared with Seminole County).
Transport
Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Ellis Road expanding state funding reduced by $4.23 million with DeSantis veto
