Crisis support for people in Parkland and nearby communities affected by the continuing trauma stemming from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre.
A new home for a West Palm Beach public policy center named after a major player in Florida political and legal circles.
Surveillance cameras in Wilton Manors, including for its main street, which is a center of the LGBTQ+ community.
Repairs for the International Fishing Pier in Deerfield Beach, battered by Hurricane Nicole.
Millions of dollars for those projects in Broward and Palm Beach County — and hundreds of additional spending initiatives in South Florida and around the state — were added to the $117.5 billion Florida budget before lawmakers wrapped up the annual legislative session this month and left Tallahassee to tout their accomplishments and campaign for reelection.
Some of the South Florida projects ultimately could save lives (large generators or facilities and training simulators for law enforcement and fire-rescue). Others could alleviate critical problems (mental health treatment and housing for 100 homeless people in Fort Lauderdale).
And many, many projects are part of the mundane, unglamorous but necessary aspects of operating government ($875,000 for sanitary sewer work in Highland Beach, which state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman said is one of her top accomplishments, plus another $250,000 for a lift station in the town.)
Funding for hundreds of such projects, ranging from modestly funded to high dollars, is possible because Florida’s state coffers are overflowing with cash from taxpayers in the state and across the nation. As a result, Florida state senators and representatives from both political parties — even those who brand themselves as fiscally frugal — push to get money for their districts.
Sometimes such projects are called pork-barrel spending or turkeys. But legislators said they’re important, and an important part of their jobs.
“I am proud to continue to bring back tens of millions of dollars to the district. Each of my cities and multiple non-profits will receive funding for important projects,” state Sen. Tina Polsky, a Broward-Palm Beach County Democrat, said via text.
Polsky said the appropriations process allows legislators to make sure their districts “are taken care of by the state.” Even in the partisan atmosphere that dominates so much of what happens in Tallahassee, Polsky said “it is important for us to maintain good relationships and work our priorities through the budget process.”
Gossett-Seidman, a south Palm Beach County Republican, said the state budget “is in a good place, happily.”
The ability of legislators to get their projects included in a budget creates a system that is more responsive to local needs than a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, she said, one community may desperately need work on its water system, while another newer community doesn’t.
“Everyone has a different need in their district … that can’t be served in an overall, unilateral budget item,” she said.
State Rep. Daryl Campbell, a Democrat who represents all or parts of six Broward cities from Fort Lauderdale to Plantation, said he is doing what legislators should do for their districts.
“It has been and continues to be my mission to advocate for funding within the budget for the county and the cities I represent with it,” Campbell said via text.
Across the House and Senate there were 143 “yes” and only three “no” votes.
State Rep. Mike Beltran, a Hillsborough County Republican, said the state was spending too much. And state Rep. Dotie Joseph, a Miami-Dade County Democrat, voted against the budget because of what she regarded as some major misplaced priorities, but wrote later she worked to “include over $2 million for much-needed projects in my district.”
Inclusion in the budget doesn’t guarantee the spending. The projects have a major remaining hurdle: Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The governor has the authority to slice individual spending items before the state budget goes into effect July 1, a power he and his predecessors have used to advance their policy priorities, reward allies and punish enemies, and eliminate spending they don’t see as prudent uses of state money.
LeMieux Center
$3 million for the LeMieux Center for Public Policy at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach.
The LeMieux Center, which has been in existence for 10 years, will get space in the Rinker School of Business. The center, according to the budget request, “serve(s) students and the public by providing a space for reasoned, thoughtful, and civil discourse on pressing public policy issues confronting Florida, the United States, and the world.”
“Surveys suggest that college-aged Florida students show relatively high levels of anxiety particularly regarding current events. LeMieux Center programming offers a space for students to allay these concerns through a better understanding of complex policy issues,” the budget request said.
Most of the money will go toward locating the LeMieux Center in a new business school building on the private Christian university’s campus.
A smaller share, $500,000, will go toward LeMieux Center programming, including its lecture series, fellows program, marketing and its podcast and quarterly publication.
The center’s namesake, George LeMieux, is chairman of the board of directors of the prominent Florida law firm Gunster. He was one of four co-chairs of the transition team for Gov. Ron DeSantis when he was first elected. LeMieux was once the top aide to former Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist appointed LeMieux to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy.
The money was sponsored by state Rep. Mike Caruso and state Sen. Bobby Powell Jr.
Fishing Pier
$550,000 toward the repairs to the International Fishing Pier in Deerfield Beach.
The pier was damaged by storm surges caused by Hurricane Nicole on Nov. 9, 2022.
The city is providing most of the work for a project that budget documents said would cost $4.5 million.
The state money will contribute to that rehabilitation. The work provides a public benefit in the form of “continued access to anglers, sightseers, and the many programs and events that take place on the pier throughout the year.”
The project was sponsored by state Rep. Patricia Williams and state Sen. Tina Polsky.
Eagles’ Haven
$600,000 will go to support the Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center, which provides wellness and support services to the Parkland and Coral Springs community. It was created in the aftermath of the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The center offers wellness services, case management, trauma education and crisis intervention/counseling. The state allocation covers half the cost of the program for the year, which is operated by JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options).
The funding was sponsored by state Rep. Christine Hunschofsky and state Sen. Tina Polsky.
Generators
$175,000 for stormwater pump station generators in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
The money would be used to add two generators to an existing stormwater pump station located on the New River, which drains downtown Fort Lauderdale, according to the budget request.
“During storms and power outages, the pump station is no longer operational, causing massive flooding on downtown roads and abutting properties. The proposed gas generators will ensure that the station remains operational during power outages, increasing the resilience in the downtown area and significantly reducing flooding impacts.”
The supporting narrative said it would result in cleaner runoff, and an increase in water quality, in the New River and reduce the flooding that currently occurs in roadways, and benefit vehicle and pedestrian traffic, as well as businesses that can remain accessible to patrons following storms.
It was sponsored by state Rep. Daryl Campbell and state Sen. Bobby Powell Jr.
There are many other generator projects in the budget, including for the Boynton Beach 911 Communications Center, $600,000; Hollywood police headquarters backup generator, $400,000
Breakers Avenue
$3 million for Breakers Avenue resilience and pedestrian traffic improvements in Fort Lauderdale.
The money would go for streetscape elements such as pedestrian safety improvements, lighting, landscape, shared used street, design, and resiliency improvements to prevent flooding with underground water and sewer utility upgrades.
Construction on the street, a block from State Road A1A, “will provide better mobility options for pedestrians that is safe, accessible, and climate-resilient. The construction will also provide a walkable public space to serve the residents, businesses, and visitors.”
“By creating a sense of place and a shared street for the community to interact, this will improve mental health of residents and visitors alike. And by improving the streetscape it will create a place where people are happy to be instead of its current condition. The creation of a shared curbless street will create a platform for events and activities to improve the cultural experience along the street where there are already galleries, cafes and hotels.”
It was sponsored by state Rep. Chip LaMarca and state Sen. Jason Pizzo.
City surveillance
$500,000 for a transparency in public safety project in Wilton Manors.
The money would go toward purchase and installation of cameras in 13 locations, plus surveillance devices on Wilton Drive and closed circuit video cameras, according to the budget requests.
“The need to improve surveillance and ensure public safety has increased in recent years due to an uptick in crime. Additional transparency would also improve and enhance police accountability,” the request states, and provide the “ability to track cars coming and going from the city and provide surveillance along the City’s most utilized downtown arts and entertainment district.”
Another request document said real-time monitoring through video surveillance cameras, coupled with a license plate reader system “will enable swift incident response.”
Wilton Drive, at the heart of the arts and entertainment district, is the unofficial main street of the LGBTQ+ community, with a heavy security presence especially for major events that draw area residents and tourists.
It was sponsored by state Rep. Daryl Campbell and state Sen. Jason Pizzo.
The budget also allocates $250,000 for the Miramar Real Time Crime Center.
The money will go toward what the request described as “a Smart City surveillance and Real-Time Crime Center initiative that will protect all city assets.” The initiative calls for a dynamic video wall, a video wall controller, desktop computers and monitors, closed circuit video and license plate readers.
It was sponsored by state Sen. Lauren Book and Rep. Felicia Robinson.
Homeless mental health
$250,000 for a homeless mental health housing program in Fort Lauderdale.
The funding would be used for mental health beads, and include food, case management, medication management, individual and group counseling and housing services, according to the request for the money.
The objective is to “improve and stabilizes the mental health of 100 homeless individuals with the end goal of housing” and “maintaining each individual through their program until they are housed.”
It was sponsored by requests filed by state Rep. Lisa Dunkley and state Sen. Shevrin Jones.
The Lord’s Place in West Palm Beach would get an allocation of $300,000 to expand services for homeless adults with serious behavioral health conditions.
The appropriation was sponsored by state Rep. Mike Caruso and state Sen. Bobby Powell.
Sheriff’s training
$476,995 for a simulator and related training equipment at the Broward Sheriff’s Office Research, Development & Training Center expansion.
The simulation training would improve the ability of first responders to handle real-life emergencies, according to backup documentation for the request.
“By practicing in simulated scenarios, responders become better equipped to respond to a wide range of incidents, from fires, natural disasters, medical emergencies and mass casualty events,” stated the request.
It was sponsored by state Rep. Christine Hunschofsky and state Sen. Jason Pizzo.
College library
$9.8 million for the student library and media technology center at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth.
The college’s main library was originally constructed in 1966 “and has not seen any major remodeling or updates since that time,” according to the budget request, which said the plan is to upgrade the library “to reflect the needs of a 21st century college campus to bring modern technologies, additional study rooms for students, more inventive and collaborate spaces for students and improve safety/security.”
The request was sponsored by state Rep. David Silvers and State Sen. Bobby Powell.
Reclaimed water treatment
$500,000 to help with construction of a water purification facility to treat reclaimed water and produce purified water.
The water will then be conveyed to lakes at the proposed Green Cay Park as indirect potable reuse by recharging the regional aquifer system, the budget documents said. It also includes construction of a public education center to promote awareness of water resources.
The total project cost is estimated at $101 million, from state, federal and local sources, the budget request said.
It was sponsored by state Sen. Tina Polsky and state Rep. Kelly Skidmore.
Lake Worth Lagoon
$270,500 for Lake Worth Lagoon seagrass rehabilitation.
The project will utilize nursery-grown seagrasses for planting in designated natural and restoration areas, budget documents said. It will then be assessed as a potential component of future large scale restoration projects within Lake Worth Lagoon.
It was sponsored by State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman.
Bike, pedestrian tunnel
$500,000 to build a tunnel under Spanish River Boulevard and El Rio Trail for bicyclists and pedestrians.
A budget document said there is an “unsafe condition for the existing crosswalk” with a new connection to I-95 increasing traffic volumes, leading to closure of an existing crosswalk.
State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman (who sponsored it along with state Sen. Lori Berman) said the location is where the entrance to Florida Atlantic University, the Interstate 95 ramps and Boca Raton Airport converge “in a conglomeration of planes, bikes and automobiles.”
Other projects
Here is a list of most of the other projects spelled out for Broward and Palm Beach counties in the state budget.
- Boca Raton Drinking Water Transmission and Distribution Improvements, $750,000.
- Lauderdale Lakes Alzheimer’s Care Center Services Expansion, $150,000, and a second allocation of $101,449.
- David Posnack JCC Sunrise Day Camp Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise on Wheels, $87,500.
- City of Fort Lauderdale Sidewalk Repairs & ADA Upgrades, $1.5 million.
- Riverland Road Traffic Safety Improvements – Fort Lauderdale, $60,000.
- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Public Safety Facility Design, $1 million.
- Lauderdale Lakes Fire Station Walk-in Triage Phase, $389,000.
- North Lauderdale Regional Training & Emergency Operations Center, $250,000.
- Pembroke Park Hardening/Mitigation Improvements for town police facility, $562,000.
- Pembroke Pines Utility Emergency Operations Center, $400,000.
- Austin Hepburn Senior Mini-Center — City of Hallandale Beach, $111,006.
- Broward County Student Athlete Mentoring Expansion Program, $250,000.
- Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Secondary Set of Firefighter Turnout Gear (Cancer Prevention initiative), $228,092.
- Hurricane Hardening at The Arc of Palm Beach County’s South Campus, $1 million.
- Wellington — Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Substation, $500,000.
- Palm Beach County Food Bank — Rural Community Mobile Food Pantry, $125,000.
- Palm Beach County Loxahatchee Slough Habitat Restoration Phase II, $90,000.
- Palm Beach Shores — Lake Worth Inlet/Singer Island Channel Dredging Project, $1 million.
- Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc. Zoo Wetlands & Ecosystem Habitat Restoration, $750,000.
- Downtown West Palm Beach Signalization Upgrades, $2.8 million.
- Central Palm Beach County Infrastructure Improvements, $1 million.
- City of Palm Beach Gardens RCA Boulevard Roadway Improvements, $400,000.
- City of West Palm Beach Traffic Signal Hardening, $475,000.
- Royal Palm Beach — Park Road North Pedestrian and Parking Upgrades, $500,000.
- YMCA of the Palm Beaches Community Center, $500,000.
- Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Water Vessels for Hazard Mitigation, $385,000.
- West Palm Beach Fire Department — Contaminant Reduction Project, $116,000.
- Coconut Creek South Potable Water Line Retrofit Project, $75,000.
- Coconut Creek Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements, $75,000.
- Cooper City Gravity Sewer Rehabilitation Project Phase 1, $700,000.
- Cooper City Hiatus Road Traffic Safety Improvement — Phase II, 470,000.
- City of Coral Springs — Public Safety Improvements, $500,000.
- City of Coral Springs — Everglades Greenway Loop, $800,000.
- Dania Beach Drainage Outfall Valve Retrofit Project, $250,000.
- Dania Beach Lift Station No. 11 Rebuild and Resiliency Project, $275,000.
- Dania Beach SW 34 Terrace Drainage Project, $500,000.
- Davie — Shenandoah Drainage Improvements, $200,000.
- Davie Fire Rescue Ambulance, $637,500.
- City of Deerfield Beach Alzheimer’s Daycare and Senior Transportation Services, $125,000.
- Hillsboro Beach Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project, $375,000.
- Lauderhill Lift Station #25 Reconstruction Relocation, $750,000.
- Lighthouse Point NE 21st Avenue Drainage Project. $300,000.
- Margate Front Line Rescue and Aerial Truck, $372,007.
- Margate 800MHz Radio Tower Repair and Upgrades, $300,000.
- Miramar Southcentral/Southeast Focal Point Senior Center, 298,916.
- Miramar Citywide Canal Embankment Improvements, $350,000.
- Miramar Citywide Streetlight Improvements, $300,000.
- Miramar Town Center — Pedestrian Underpass, $500,000.
- Parkland Ranches Flooding Mitigation and Water Quality Improvement, $100,000.
- Parkland Fire Rescue and Alarm Control Panel Improvements, $250,000.
- Old Plantation Water Control District Stormwater Pump Stations Rehabilitation and Automation, $500,000.
- Pompano Beach NW 16th Lane Stormwater Project, $500,000.
- Southwest Ranches SW 163rd Avenue Drainage Improvement, $435,080.
- Sunrise Community — Shelter-In-Place for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled, $925,714.
- Sunrise Fire Rescue Regional Highway Response Equipment, $400,000.
- Tamarac Canal Culvert Gate and Aluminum Headwall Improvements, $451,081.
- Tamarac Park Safety and Health Enhancements, $271,577.
- 94th Avenue Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Improvements — Tamarac, $716,533.
- Weston Wastewater Lift Stations Hardening and Rehabilitation, $550,000.
- City of West Park Senior Program, $400,000.
- City of West Park Youth Crime Prevention Program, $300,000.
- Boca Raton Jeffrey Street Seawall Replacement, $300,000.
- Delray Beach N Swinton Roadway and Underground Utility Improvements Phase 2, $750,000.
- SW 8th Avenue Roadway Restoration — Delray Beach, $500,000.
- Delray Beach Emergency Response Mobile Traffic Barrier and First Responder Protection, $306,000.
- Boynton Beach Lake Shore Bridge Canal Project, $591,066.
- Boynton Beach Sky Lake Neighborhood Road Resurfacing, $1 million.
- Ocean Ridge Water Valve Project, $250,000.
- City of Greenacres — Chickasaw Road Expansion Project, $250,000.
- Palm Springs Village Congress Avenue Sewer Force Main, $1 million.
- Loxahatchee Groves Stormwater System Rehabilitation Phase II, $750,000.
- Mangonia Park Water Plant Modernization and Expansion, $750,000.
- Riviera Beach — Shore, Palm, Riviera Drive Pavement Restoration, $350,000.
- Riviera Beach Design and Demolition of existing Fire Station on Singer Island, $500,000.
Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Post.news.