DeSantis vetoes $2.7M for South Florida projects. Dozens of local items go unscathed.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed $2.7 million that would have supported 14 South Florida projects — including a Miami-Dade mosquito control project, a pedestrian bridge in Sunny Isles Beach and a youth crime prevention program in West Park.

The governor did not explain why he cut state funding from those projects. His office also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a transmittal letter, though, he broadly said that even though some parts of the budget were vetoed, “ample resources are available to all communities through the state to continue a robust economic recovery, support vital services to residents and continue forward with our priorities on the environment, education and public safety.”

DeSantis cut $500,000 in state funding that would have helped build a pedestrian bridge across Collins Avenue at 180th Street in Sunny Isles Beach, a town plagued by traffic crashes, including some that have been fatal.

Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-North Miami Beach, requested funding for the bridge in January. He said it was to “provide for much needed pedestrian safety on the only thoroughfare through the city” and alleviate traffic congestion.

After DeSantis vetoed the project, Pizzo said it’s “hard to rationalize some of these cuts, when many have to do with critical infrastructure or resident safety.” He added that it was “a little strange” to see small city projects slashed in a year when Congress sent Florida billions in federal aid after the pandemic.

Specifically, Pizzo was referring to $40,000 DeSantis trimmed from the budget that would have installed a generator for the emergency operations center at the Village of Biscayne Park, which has a population of about 3,000. The money would have also set up exterior lighting outside of the Ed Burke Recreation Center at the village.

“These projects are de minimis [insignificant] compared to the overall budget, but some are critical to smaller cities,” Pizzo said.

Sen. Shev. Jones, D-West Park, sponsored 5 of the 14 South Florida projects that got cut by the governor.

“Many of those programs cut were critical to the people of District 35 at they impact the long-term health, safety and prosperity of our community. In order to best position Florida for the future, we need to make smart investments in these areas and our people — youth crime prevention, mentorship and senior programming, and professional development for our teachers, all vetoed, shouldn’t be on the chopping block,” Jones said in a text message.

The governor also vetoed $250,000 for a high-demand scholarship program that helps public university students intern in Washington, D.C., through The Washington Center’s Academic Internship Program.

The local vetoes came on the same day the governor signed a record $100 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1.

That same budget still includes more than $80 million for dozens of other South Florida local projects — including funding for a new Opa-locka police station, the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Broward County cold case solving.

What didn’t make it onto the budget?

▪ Sunny Isles Beach pedestrian bridge, Collins Avenue at Government Center, $500,000

▪ North Miami Beach, NE 153rd Street roadway improvement, $495,000

▪ Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan, Phase 1, West Park, $300,000

▪ Homestead water tower pump station, $300,000

▪ Florida International University, the Washington Center Scholarship, $250,000

▪ City of West Park youth crime prevention, $200,000

▪ City of Sunrise veterans and senior re-purposing of facility, $150,000

▪ Laurel wilt mitigation (avocados), $150,000

▪ City of Pembroke Pines license plate reader project, $125,000

▪ City of Opa-locka senior programming, $100,000

▪ Homestead automatic flushing system, $100,000

▪ Coconut Creek Hillsboro water storage tank rehabilitation, $100,000

▪ Miami-Dade County mosquito control adulticide program, $51,600

▪ Pembroke Park Community Garden Solar Safety Lighting, $50,000

▪ Village of Biscayne Park, EOC generator and recreation center lighting, $40,000

This story was originally published June 2, 2021 at 2:58 PM.