Northwest Florida Delegation Delivers

Rick Outzen

2 hours ago

State Budget

Gaetz Secures $30 Million for Northwest Florida in State Budget

Twenty-two local projects—spanning UWF, Pensacola State, hospitals, infrastructure, and arts—are included in the $115 billion spending plan awaiting final legislative votes and the governor’s signature.

State Senator Don Gaetz (R-Crestview) announced Tuesday that twenty-two projects he sponsored are funded in Florida’s proposed $115 billion state budget, representing roughly $30 million directed to Northwest Florida communities. The full Senate and House are expected to vote on the spending plan later this week, after which it goes to Governor Ron DeSantis—who retains line-item veto authority over any provision or project.

“At a time when state spending is reduced for the second year in a row, I am very thankful that Senate and House negotiators saw the value in our proposals to benefit Northwest Florida.”
—Sen. Don Gaetz

Higher Education

The University of West Florida is the single largest beneficiary, with three allocations totaling $9.25 million:

$8 million for campus building infrastructure support
$1 million for cybersecurity advances
$250,000 to develop a digital credential program

Pensacola State College received two approvals totaling $5.5 million:

$5 million for the South Santa Rosa Health Science and Nursing Center
$500,000 to expand military and veterans’ educational services

Health Care

$3 million — Andrews Institute, medical research
$2 million — Baptist Gulf Breeze Hospital, storm hardening
$900,000 — Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, maternal and perinatal center
$1 million — Institute for Human & Machine Cognition

Infrastructure and Public Works

$1.5 million — City of Milton wastewater treatment plant
$1 million — ECUA West Ensley septic-to-sewer conversion
$1.5 million — State Road 85 bypass expansion, Crestview
$850,000 — Whiting Field runway expansion, north Santa Rosa County
Special funding — Holt Fire District, Blackman Fire District, and Almarante Fire District (Okaloosa County rural districts)

Community, Veterans, and Arts

$750,000 — Re-entry Pensacola, recidivism-reduction program
$750,000 — Pensacola Veterans and Families Mental Health
$650,000 — National Flight Academy
$646,000 — Pensacola Little Theatre
$250,000 — Crestview Robotics
$250,000 — Historic Pensacola

What comes next: The full Florida Senate and House are expected to vote on the $115 billion budget later this week. If passed, it moves to Governor DeSantis, who can veto individual line items. No project is guaranteed until the governor signs it.

Gaetz credited Senator Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) for his advocacy for the region and thanked House sponsors Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), Rep. Nathan Boyles (R-Baker), Rep. Patt Maney (R-Fort Walton Beach), and Rep. Michelle Saltzman (R-Pensacola) for their roles in securing the appropriations. Gaetz noted that no legislator’s project reaches the final budget without winning support from fellow senators and House members.