Governor’s budget vetoes impact Cape projects
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When Gov. Ron Desantis vetoed more than $3 billion from this year’s state budget which was signed into law Thursday, most every large city and small town took some kind of a hit.
Cape Coral was among those cities affected by the governor’s red veto pen, with four items totaling $3,375,000 that directly impacts the city and others that have a more indirect impact.
DeSantis signed into law a $109.9 billion state budget in a campaign-style event at The Villages, saying the cuts were needed to defend against a stumbling national economy.
Projects the governor took funding from included $1.75 million for the Caloosahatchee Connect reclaimed water pipeline from Fort Myers to Cape Coral.
Also cut from the budget was $1 million for the Cape Coral North Wellfield expansion project, $250,000 for the Cape Coral Ecological Preserve Boardwalk Replacement, and $375,000 for the city’s Tactical Intelligence and Analytics Center.
Cape Coral City Councilmember Tom Hayden said he was unpleasantly surprised by the vetoes, especially the River Crossing project.
“I had been told by our representatives from the state legislature that it all went through and there shouldn’t be an issue. I’d like to know what the issue may have been with the River Crossing,” Hayden said. “Since water quality is one of the governor’s key topics and this project impacts the environment in a positive way, you would think he would have endorsed it.”
Councilmember Gloria Tate also was surprised by the vetoes, and said the city will have work to see if there is a funding alternative.
“I believe the staff is working with our lobbyist to understand why the River Crossing wasn’t funded,” Tate said. “We’re going to have to look for alternate sources of funding and we have our budget retreat on June 9 and we’ll be talking about that. Now, we have to put our pen to paper and sharpen our skills.”
Tate said she also was confused about veto for funding for the city’s intelligence center, saying there may have been confusion whether it would be regional (which it was meant for) or just for the city.
Melissa Mickey, communications manager of the city, said most projects will go on as scheduled except for, perhaps, the boardwalk.
“Regarding the River Crossing and the North Wellfield project, both are fully funded from grants and utility rates and charges. Both projects will continue to move forward. The River Crossing is under construction and the new drinking water wells are currently being designed,” Mickey said in an e-mail.
Mickey said she didn’t have definitive info on the Eco Park boardwalk project, but that it would most likely be put on hold.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com