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Bay Area Projects Survive In Budget Governor Signs

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 12, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist spared parks, roads, drainage plans and dozens of other local projects from his veto pen Wednesday when he approved nearly every bit of the $66 billion budget that lawmakers submitted for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The Legislature had already weeded out many local requests during the spring, when the House and Senate approved a 2008-2009 budget that fell short of the current year's spending levels by $4 billion.

Crist vetoed $251 million, most of which would have expanded the property insurance market by providing loans to small insurers. It was a far cry from nearly $460 million that he whacked from the 2007-2008 budget last year. The governor made no public appearances Wednesday but had told reporters the day before that state spending is an important economic stimulus, especially during tough times.

"That might be one reason why you see less vetoes this week than you saw last year," he said, saying it was especially important to continue funding road and water projects "that really touch the people."

Among the Tampa Bay area projects that Crist approved:

•$700,000 for a rail feasibility study of South Florida and the Bay area, including light rail, to inform future planning and avoid the kind of controversy dogging the CSX light-rail project in Central Florida.

•$2 million for the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority for operations and completion of a regional transportation plan.

•In Hillsborough County, $9.3 million for road resurfacing on U.S. 301 from north of Gibsonton Drive to south of Bloomingdale Avenue, and on U.S. 41 from South Denver Street to North St. Paul Street.

•In Tampa, $11.7 million for programs - but no building expansion - at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute.

• $5 million to lure employers to Pasco County.

•In Pasco, $2 million for a combined regional hurricane shelter and health clinic to serve uninsured and underinsured residents.

•In St. Petersburg, $307,200 for the Florida Holocaust Museum.

•In Pasco, $46.5 million to reconstruct the Interstate 75 interchange at County Road 54.

•In Pasco, $10 million to pay for road improvements and other infrastructure needs because of new schools.

•In Hillsborough, $1.2 million for drainage projects in the vicinities of North Tampa near Busch Gardens, Drew Park near Tampa International Airport, and the Duck Pond watershed north and west of the University of South Florida.

Tampa is about three years into a five-year effort to address the city's drainage and flooding issues, in partnership with the state and Hillsborough County, said Chuck Walter, director of the city's stormwater department.

"Our calls from customers have gone down dramatically since we've started to get these projects in the ground," Walter said. "We've seen a dramatic improvement in customer satisfaction with drainage."

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said he was especially grateful for the $5 million to spur Pasco's economy. The county will have to match the state's $5 million for economic development to get the money. "This is going to bring good, high-paying jobs to Pasco," Fasano said.

Statewide, the budget responds to plunging state revenue by reducing kindergarten through grade 12 school spending by $332 million, or $131 a student. It provides 10 percent salary bonuses for nationally board-certified teachers, but eliminates funding to help them get certification.

The state budget includes $50 million to restore the Everglades and $300 million for the popular Florida Forever land conservation program. College and university tuition will rise 6 percent, and Medicaid payments to nursing homes will fall by $164 million.

Crist approved $109 million of the $110 million worth of budget items that Florida TaxWatch had labeled as "turkeys." The fiscal watchdog group releases lists items every year that slip into the budget without going through normal appropriations channels. Last year, Crist vetoed $141 million of the "turkeys" identified by TaxWatch.

"Last year, Gov. Crist not only talked the talk but walked the walk" of fiscal accountability, said Dominic Calabro, TaxWatch president. "He set a very high bar, and only he can answer why he decided not to keep it this year."

Reporter Christian Wade contributed to this report. Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or cdolinski@tampatrib.com.

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