- July 12, 2025
Flagler County escaped the governor's veto pen for the new budget, with government, cultural groups and nonprofits walking away with almost $34 million.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the $117.4 billion "Focus on Fiscal Responsibility" budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 on Monday, June 30, after $567 million in line-item vetoes.
"Florida continues to lead the nation in combatting illegal immigration, amplifying school choice, increasing teacher salaries, devoting money towards cancer research and innovation, investing in Everglades conservation and water quality restoration, and continuing to help those who are still recovering from the most recent hurricane season," DeSantis wrote in his veto letter to State Secretary Cord Byrd.
Among the allocations for Flagler County were $2.5 million for an advanced wastewater treatment conversion project in Palm Coast; $2,375,000 for a wastewater collection equalizer tank project in Palm Coast; and $125,000 for the Palm Coast YMCA Recreation Center.
It should be noted, though, that the allocations were less than what had been requested. Originally, Palm Coast was seeking $45 million for its wastewater treatment conversion project, as well as $4,750,000 for its equalizer tank project.
The city was also seeking $250,000 for the YMCA center.
All of Palm Coast's requests were sponsored by Sam Greco, R-St. Augustine.
For the conversion, Greco wrote in his request that the project aims "to modernize the treatment process of the city's primary wastewater treatment facility, to align with objectives of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to better protect the environment and waters of the state by reducing key pollutants associated with effluent produced at treatment facilities."
Additionally, the equalizer tank would help manage stormwater impacts to the city's wastewater collections system, he wrote.
These appropriations were also granted to local organizations:
The county was also allocated $3,122,585 for a "Flagler County Shore Protection project," the county's annual award through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Beach Management Funding Assistance Program.
"They rank projects through this process for cost-sharing along Florida’s shorelines that are designated as 'Critically Eroded,' a designation that is determined by FDEP," said Ansley Wren-Key, the county's coastal engineering administrator, in a statement.
However, the funding allocated, she noted in the email, didn't match what she expected the county to receive.
The City of Ormond Beach requested funding for two projects: $350,000 for a sports field for the special needs population in the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, and $500,000 for a stormwater analysis.
The request for the analysis was vetoed, along with over 60 other similar stormwater, wastewater and flood mitigation projects statewide, including projects in Lake Helen, DeBary and Deltona.
In total, over $5.1 million in requests were vetoed, including $100,000 for a free medical clinic by Volusia Volunteers in Medicine, $750,000 for a Daytona Beach Police Department Training Facility and $500,000 for a Ponce Inlet Fire Station design project. The state funded over $457 million in appropriations in Volusia, including big ticket transportation grants and programs.
Sponsored by Florida Rep. Bill Partington, R-Ormond Beach, the stormwater analysis request would have funded an flood study on a 500-acre neighborhood in the city with homes developed before 1970 to confirm level of service of existing infrastructures and identify future needs.
"Results from this analysis will allow for the identification of undersized drainage infrastructure in this area and prepare the city to install right-sized infrastructure," Partington, a former Ormond Beach mayor, wrote in his request.
The city had originally asked for $1,25 million for its "Miracle Field," which will be designed for adaptive versions of sports for its special needs population.
Volusia County was able to obtain $1 million for upgrades to North Beach Street. The project seeks to raise the elevation of about 2,200 linear feet along the repeatedly-flooding causeway by constructing a new asphalt concrete driving surface and the installation of culverts to equalize the south and north sides of the street along the Tomoka River.
"The elevation will improve storm resilience by ensuring unimpeded traffic flow, preserving a critical evacuation route during storm events, and restoring the natural water flow through the surrounding watershed basin," the count said in a statement to the Observer. "Although the project was approved for state funding, the allocation was lower than requested; therefore, the County will need to seek additional funding options as we proceed with construction."
The county was seeking $7 million, and the appropriations request was also by Partington.
Volusia was also able to obtain $400,000 in state funding, the amount it requested, for improvements to its emergency operations center. The county stated that this will help it meet updated FEMA standards for storm shelters.
"Last year, FEMA implemented more stringent requirements for generator enclosures and transfer switches used in emergency shelters," the county stated. "The original design, based on earlier guidance from FEMA, no longer complies with the agency's new standards. The additional funding will enable us to install a new generator, transfer switch, and suitable protective enclosures."
The county has already committed $2.7 million to this project through previous funding cycles.
These appropriations were also granted to local organizations:
