28-06-2025
About $21M is at stake for area in state budget. Here are the projects that face veto pen
From funding services to support veterans and high-tech crime fighting tools, to budgeting for new bathrooms at Palafox Market in downtown Pensacola, the Florida legislature has approved $21,174,400 million in appropriations requests for projects that would impact Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including the Pensacola area.
Governor Ron DeSantis is still reviewing the $115 billion budget legislators passed and has warned he may veto at least $500 million in funding appropriations.
Here's a look at what projects were pitched by local legislators and greenlighted for state funding, should the governor sign off on them.
He's expected to sign the budget into law before July 1.
The Arc Gateway Pearl Nelson Center - $400,000
Palafox Market Public Restrooms (Downtown Improvement Board project) – $75,000
OnBikes Pensacola (Escambia, Santa Rosa) - $62,500
Family Arts Education Expansion at Pensacola Little Theatre (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton) - $646,000
The Blue Angels Foundation for Critical Veteran's Services - $1,500,000
Historic Pensacola - $125,000
Total: $2,808,500
As DeSantis looks to slash Florida budget, here's why Pensacola could be in his crosshairs
ECUA Compost Improvements - $1,000,000
Escambia County Carpenter Creek/Bayou Texar Stream Restoration Property Acquisition - $1,000,000
Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Osceola) - $975,000
UWF Educational Research Center for Child Development Expansion (serving Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton) - $1,667,400
UWF Next Generation Innovators with Northwest Florida State College - $2,000,000
UWF Undergraduate Civil Engineering program - $750,000
The Retreat Expansion (serving Escambia, Santa Rosa) - $300,000
The NISSI Project (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay) - $37,500
Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Inc. (Escambia, Santa Rosa) - $750,000
Escambia County Gun Violence Reduction - $350,000
Brain Bag Early Literacy Program (Escambia, Santa Rosa) - $145,000
National Flight Academy (Bay, Escambia, Hillsborough, Leon, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, St. Johns, Santa Rosa, Walton) - $650,000
AMR at Pensacola Homes for Veterans - $350,000
Pouring Foundations Transitional Housing Project - $150,000 (Escambia, Santa Rosa)
Havens of Hope Foundation Senior Services Critical Infrastructure Improvements - $375,000
Covenant Care Foundation Nonie's Place Children Therapy Center - $375,000
Florida Lighthouse At-Risk Youth Mentorship Program - $250,000
Total: $11,124,900
Construction of stormwater pond at Bagdad Distribution Site - $591,000
Jay Business Park Stormwater Pond Expansion - $400,000
Jay Emergency Generator Replacement - $375,000
Santa Rosa County Soundside Land Conservation and Preservation - $850,000
Andrews Institute Research: Regenerative Medicine – $3,500,000
Santa Rosa County Veterans Treatment Court – $150,000
Extension of Taxiway at Whiting Aviation Industrial Park - $850,000
Naval Air Station Whiting Field – Base Entrance Traffic Improvements $275,000
Vet CV Mission Next Center - $250,000
Total: 7,241,000
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia, Santa Rosa funding in Florida budget, if no veto
