By Rich Pollack
The impact of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to veto more than $3 billion of projects and programs before signing a $109.9 billion state budget into law in June is being felt in Highland Beach, where the ax fell on three funding requests.
There may still be hope for the town’s chances of getting funding for at least two of the projects, however, thanks to a new grant program funded by the Florida House of Representatives.
As DeSantis trimmed the massive state budget last month, Highland Beach’s requests for $700,000 toward drainage improvements along State Road A1A, $400,000 for help funding a new fire station and $60,000 for crosswalk lighting were eliminated.
“We were all surprised,” said Commissioner Peggy Gossett-Seidman, who led the commission’s effort to secure the appropriations. “We really thought we had a shot.”
Although it is uncertain why Highland Beach’s requests were turned down, state Rep. Mike Caruso (R-Delray Beach) and Gossett-Seidman believe the town’s strong tax base combined with the governor’s decision not to fund fire station projects may have sparked the specific vetoes.
“Those communities that emerged healthy financially, they may have been considered well positioned to move forward without an appropriation,” said Gossett-Seidman, who is running as a Republican for House District 91.
She and Caruso pointed out that funding for fire house improvements in other municipalities — including the town of Palm Beach — were also vetoed by the governor.
DeSantis and his staff, Gossett-Seidman said, may see a need for those types of capital projects to be funded by municipalities.
Caruso said he is now working with the town on applications for the House’s 2022 local support grants program, which includes $175 million to be distributed to municipalities.
The decision on whether Highland Beach gets the funding bypasses the governor’s office as well as the state Senate and is up to House leadership.
Caruso said he and Gossett-Seidman will apply for money to help with two of the projects — construction of the fire station and drainage along A1A — and believes chances are good for approval.
“Highland Beach hasn’t had an appropriation in 72 years, its entire existence,” he said. “I’m encouraged by the new grants and confident we’ll bring at least one project home.”
Caruso said he’s not planning to ask for the $60,000 for embedded crosswalk lighting that was in the original appropriations request. But Town Manager Marshall Labadie said Highland Beach could ask again and perhaps have the project done when the Florida Department of Transportation resurfaces A1A.
That project is scheduled for summer 2024.
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