{"id":325164,"date":"2026-06-30T21:15:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/325164\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T21:15:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:15:29","slug":"state-budget-what-first-coast-projects-survived-desantis-veto-and-what-got-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/325164\/","title":{"rendered":"State budget: What First Coast projects survived DeSantis\u2019 veto and what got cut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gov. Ron DeSantis used his veto pen to cut nearly $18 million in Northeast Florida projects the Florida Legislature included in this year\u2019s state budget.<\/p>\n

The cuts were part of nearly $810 million in local projects DeSantis vetoed from the state\u2019s $117.6 billion spending plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year \u2014 his final state budget as governor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Among the cuts were $1.75 million from restroom buildings at the new Jacksonville fairgrounds under construction on the Westside, sponsored by Republican Rep. Wyann Duggan in the House and Democrat Sen. Tracie Davis in the Senate.\u00a0DeSantis allowed $3.5 million in last year\u2019s budget<\/a> for the fairgrounds\u2019 second phase.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The governor also eliminated a total of $1 million for Edward Waters University\u2019s Living, Learning, and Community Multiplex, which also received $2 million in support<\/a> from the city earlier this year.<\/p>\n

A pair of $750,000 vetoes also cut funding for an 11th and 12th Street Connector project and the Hogan Street Emerald Trail segment from Union to First streets in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

\"\"Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference Aug. 12, 2025, in Tampa. | Chris O\u2019Meara, AP file<\/p>\n

During a news conference Monday, the governor touted his line-item veto record, which is about $10.6 billion total during his eight years in office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not trying to set a veto record. I already did set that record,\u201d DeSantis said. \u201cBut I did want to make sure the budget (was) reduced. And it didn\u2019t have to be reduced by $5 billion, but it had to be lower. \u2026 Within that, we wanted to accommodate a lot of the priorities that the folks in the Legislature had.\u201d<\/p>\n

What survived<\/p>\n

The governor left tens of millions of dollars for First Coast projects in the budget. The state will invest $2 million in the city of Jacksonville\u2019s push to get the Culinary Institute of America<\/a> to bring its Southeast U.S. campus to the Downtown riverfront.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The final state budget also keeps $1.25 million for the Jacksonville Museum of Science & History\u2019s proposed $131 million new Downtown Northbank facility<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also $5 million for fencing, bollards, lighting, and landscaping<\/a> around the east side of Downtown Jacksonville to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety around the $2 billion Pearl Square neighborhood<\/a>, currently under construction.<\/p>\n

Here is the list of local project funding<\/a> from the Legislature that survived in the final budget:\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the budget: Jacksonville and Duval County<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Regional Corridor \u2014 Interstate 295 to U.S. \u2014 $8.1 million<\/p>\n

Jacksonville \u2014 Wigmore Street Vehicle Overpass \u2014 $5 million<\/p>\n

Improving Safety & Security in Downtown Jacksonville \u2014 $5 million<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Classical Academy Expansion \u2014 $3 million<\/p>\n

Culinary Institute of America \u2014 Downtown Jacksonville Campus \u2014 $2 million<\/p>\n

Jacksonville University Accelerated Nursing Programs \u2014 $2 million<\/p>\n

Jacksonville University Entrepreneurism, Policy, Innovation, and Commerce Program\u00a0\u2014 $2 million<\/p>\n

UF Health Jacksonville operating support \u2014 $1.5 million<\/p>\n

University of Florida (Jacksonville) \u2014 $1,276,630<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Museum of Science & History Genesis \u2014 $1.25 million<\/p>\n

Jacksonville \u2014 McCoys Creek Park \u2014 $1 million<\/p>\n

Jacksonville \u2014 Baymeadows Road Crosswalk Improvements \u2014 $972,000<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office \u2014 Drone First Responder Program \u2014 $610,000<\/p>\n

Her Song Jacksonville \u2014 Survivor Care for Victims of\u00a0 Human Trafficking \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s Center of Jacksonville: Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program \u2014 $461,710<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens Lion\u2019s Camp Education Center \u2014 $400,000<\/p>\n

Jacksonville School for Autism Supportive Transition & Employment Placement Program \u2014 $300,000<\/p>\n

The Arc Jacksonville \u2014 IDD Family Support & Navigation Pilot \u2014 $300,000<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Sports Foundation \u2014 Florida Sports Workforce Apprenticeship Initiative \u2014 $250,000<\/p>\n

Virtual Tutoring Support Program for Duval County Public Schools \u2014 $250,000<\/p>\n

The Jacksonville History Center \u2014 $225,000<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Arts & Music School (JAMS) \u2014 What A Leader (W.A.L.) Program \u2014 $200,000<\/p>\n

The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services \u2014 Duval County Mental Health \u2014 $200,000<\/p>\n

Atlantic Beach \u2014 Sailfish Drive Multi-Use Path \u2014 $195,000<\/p>\n

NAMI Jacksonville \u2014 PEER Link \u2014 Peer Navigation and Mental Health Support \u2014 $150,000<\/p>\n

St. Augustine and St. Johns County\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lower St. Johns River Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Project Phase 2 \u2014 $2 million<\/p>\n

St. Johns County Sheriff\u2019s Office Detox Program \u2014 $1.3 million<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Beach Mickler Outfall South Adaptation\/Resiliency Improvements \u2014 $1,016,025<\/p>\n

St. Johns County \u2013 State Road 16 Phase 2 \u2014 $1 million<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Beach Mickler Outfall North Resiliency\/Adaptation Improvements \u2014 $828,000<\/p>\n

St. Johns County School District \u2014 Therapeutic Learning Center for Children at The Arc\u00a0<\/p>\n

of the St. Johns \u2013 Charter School Expansion \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum World War II-Themed Education Building (\u2013 $500,000<\/p>\n

St. Johns County Police Athletic League Diamond of\u00a0 Dreams \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Youth Services \u2013 Intensive In-Home Therapeutic Programs \u2014 $300,000<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Teen Center Boys & Girls Club \u2014 $200,000<\/p>\n

Trinity Rescue Mission \u2013 St. Johns Facility Improvements \u2014 $150,000<\/p>\n

St. Johns County Career and Job Readiness \u2014 $132,500<\/p>\n

Nassau County<\/p>\n

Nassau County Sheriff\u2019s Office K-9 Unit Regional Training Facility \u2014 Public Safety Training Complex \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

Nassau County Thomas Creek Basin Flooding Mitigation \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

Nassau County Affordable Housing \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

Nassau County Courthouse Redesign and New Courtroom \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

Nassau County Youth Alternative to Secured Detention \u2014 $125,000<\/p>\n

Clay County<\/p>\n

Clay County School Readiness and Early Learning Services \u2014 $7.466 million<\/p>\n

Clay County Voluntary pre-kindergarden program \u2014 $4.743 million\u00a0<\/p>\n

Expand County Road 218 to Four Lanes \u2014 $2 million<\/p>\n

First Coast project funding the governor cut from the budget include:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vetoed: Jacksonville and Duval County<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Fair Restroom Buildings Phase 3 \u2014 $1,75 million<\/p>\n

Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly, 200 New Slots \u2014 Duval County \u2014 $1.39 million<\/p>\n

Jacksonville \u2014 11th and 12th Street Connector \u2014 $750,000<\/p>\n

Jacksonville \u2014 Hogan Street Emerald Trail from Union Street to 1st Street \u2014 $750,000<\/p>\n

Edward Waters University \u2014 Living, Learning, and Community Multiplex \u2014 $666,300<\/p>\n

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council Inc. \u2014 Drew Rehabilitation \u2014 $350,000<\/p>\n

Edward Waters University \u2014 Living, Learning, and Community Multiplex \u2014 $333,700<\/p>\n

Historic Eastside Community Preventive Health and Wellness Initiative \u2014 $136,538<\/p>\n

Atlantic Beach \u2014 Sailfish Drive Multi-Use Path \u2014 $195,000<\/p>\n

Northeast Florida Builders Association Workforce Education Expansion Operations \u2014 $100,000<\/p>\n

Planned to A.T. Financial Literacy Curriculum Expansion in Duval County Public Schools \u2014 $100,000<\/p>\n

St. Augustine and St. Johns County<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Design, Construction of Resilient Structure on Anastasia Blvd \u2014 $1.5 million<\/p>\n

Anastasia Island Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety \u2014 $1.25 million<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Wastewater System Planning & Design \u2014 $1 million<\/p>\n

St. Augustine Beach Mizell Outfall Resiliency Improvements \u2014 $776,250<\/p>\n

The Arc of the St. Johns \u2014 Transportation Maintenance Facility Expansion and Modernization \u2014 $750,000<\/p>\n

St. Johns County School District \u2014 Therapeutic Learning Center for Children at The Arc of the St. Johns \u2014 Charter School Expansion \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

Green Cove Springs \u2014 St. Johns River Trail Design Phase II \u2014 $356,250<\/p>\n

Nassau County<\/p>\n

Nassau County CR 107 Widening & Intersection Improvements \u2014 $500,000<\/p>\n

Clay County<\/p>\n

Clay County Fairgrounds Improvements \u2014 $250,000<\/p>\n

Clay County Utility Authority OT, SCADA and Cybersecurity Improvements \u2014 $750,000<\/p>\n

Clay County Utility Authority OT, SCADA and Cybersecurity Improvements \u2014 $250,000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gov. Ron DeSantis used his veto pen to cut nearly $18 million in Northeast Florida projects the Florida…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":216295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[43323,88005,116,118,117,52066,1443,115,99,412],"class_list":["post-325164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jacksonville","tag-distribute","tag-government-politics","tag-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville-headlines","tag-jacksonville-news","tag-jaxtdy3","tag-legislature","tag-news","tag-politics","tag-ron-desantis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=325164"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325164\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/216295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=325164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=325164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=325164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}