Legislative Session will officially begin next Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Wanted to provide you with an update on the house appropriations project funding requests, filed for fiscal year 2023-2024 by State Representative Shane Abbott. He has been working very hard filing bills and requests on behalf of the constituents he represents.
As of the preparation of this article, there were 2,175 total appropriations project funding requests. State Representative Abbott filed 71 of those project requests and 17 of those requests were specific to Jackson County. In a prior article we covered the requests for Saint Luke Baptist Church Preservation at $750,000; Marianna – Upgrade water meter to automated meter at $800,000. The additional Jackson County project requests are outlined below:
Endeavor Park Conference Center
$ 1,495,725
“Renovate the old gym located on the Endeavor property into a state-of-the-art conference center space.”
Marianna Airport Crosswind Runway Rehabilitation
$ 500,000
“Rehab/Resurface existing crosswind runway 8/26 which is in very bad condition.”
Lake Seminole Howell’s Boat Landing Improvements
$ 786,150
“To conduct several improvements to Lake Seminole’s Howell’s Boat Landing. Such improvements include the installation of additional parking spaces, a storm water retention pond, floating dock boat slips, an elevated boardwalk as well as the construction of covered pavilions, playground, and a restroom facility.”
Sneads Rural Youth Complex Infrastructure
$ 1,050,000
“To provide working recreational infrastructure to a rural area, that the town or surrounding communities would not otherwise reasonably be able to afford.”
“Endeavor Forward, Inc. NextStep at Endeavor Academy
$ 976,000
“To build an inclusive community where the benefits of educating and employing individuals with autism are broadly understood. Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will be given the curriculum, services, and support needed to complete intensive learning experiences to increase their ability to maintain competitive employment and live independently.”
Jackson County Hospital District Medical Complex
$ 5,000,000
“Assist in site preparation and initial construction costs to create a medical complex connected to Jackson Hospital, as well as renovation of vacant buildings for administrative space. This is the first phase of a multi-phase project that will include an imaging center, an ambulatory surgery center, a therapy/rehabilitation building, fitness center, and much-needed medical office space, in addition to administrative offices and the prerequisite infrastructure and parking”.
Jackson County School District – Central Services Building, Community Center & Museum
$ 7,000,000
“To provide a place for community engagement through community events held in common space and performing arts auditorium, provide central office space for school district services, and provide a location to learn about Jackson County history. Currently ESE, Curriculum, and MIS services are in separate locations. This will provide parents and the community a single point of location for school services and a location for events to strengthen community bonds.”
Jackson County School District – Student Safety Improvements
$ 2,500,000
“To provide for funding to complete school hardening and other safety improvements at all school campuses within one comprehensive approach versus one campus every year. With current funding streams from the state and local resources, the District is able to complete one campus each fiscal year. We have 9 campuses remaining to have their lobbies hardened. Each campus needs updated fencing. The most expensive campuses to renovate are the remaining campuses.”
Jackson County District Cottondale Gym Replacement
$ 5,000,000
“Provide an updated gym for sporting events and community events for the community of Cottondale for the 1000 students and families of the community.”
Grand Ridge Wastewater Extension to I-10
$ 1,665,000
“The funds will be used to extend wastewater lines to the I-10 interchange in order to support economic development efforts of the Town of Grand Ridge. The lines will serve existing residents/business owners who are at risk of closing because of failing septic systems and support growth of new businesses at this vital interchange on the interstate. A more resilient infrastructure will benefit a major evacuation route along the I-10 and Highway 69 corridor.”
Jacob City Volunteer Fire Department Enhancement
$ 350,000
With these funds the City will purchase a fire truck that will support not only the City of Jacob but surrounding communities as well during times of need.
Jacob Water Meters
$ 400,000
“To install updated meters for the City. These will include new boxes, lids, meters, curb stops, customer valves, backflows, and AMI endpoints. These will aid the City of Jacob with showing leaks in real time, as well as time reading all them individually on a monthly basis.”
Chipola College – Building Renovation for Nursing Program Expansion
$ 1,200,000
Update and renovate a campus building erected in 1966, not in current use, to house a new Licensed Practical Nursing program to address a critical shortage in our five-country service area and in North Florida. Our current Health Sciences building houses our RN, BSN, EMT, Paramedic, and CNA programs so an expansion of space is needed.
Graceville Public Works/Wastewater Treatment Ground Upgrades
$ 750,000
“To upgrade their existing grounds around the public works department/wastewater treatment plant. The City has 3 entrances into the plant on roads that have been pieced together for years that they wish to address. The City will reclaim and pave the driveways leading to the Public works department/wastewater treatment plant, resurface the parking lot, as well as add 3 security gates at each entrance that will open/close with either remotes or sensors.”
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office – Hurricane Michael Rebuild
$14,812,499
“To provide public safety services to include 911 and emergency management for Jackson County and surrounding counties. Our current facility is a decommissioned juvenile prison that was retrofitted in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael which destroyed the original JCSO facility.”
That is a total of $45,035,374 Jackson County funding project requests in the House of Representatives. We will have to wait and see what is finalized in the final appropriations bill. Then wait for the Governor to pass and veto items in the budget. Just remember our democracy was designed to operate as “Government of the people, by the people” and this can only be achieved by informed citizens who are willing to voice their opinions and beliefs.
Published | Jackson County Times | March 2, 2023