A county-by-county allocations report released last week by the Florida House of Representatives Appropriations Committee sheds a little more light on the funding that counties across the state can expect to receive as a result of the recent legislative session. In brief, the July 2 House report shows Jefferson County slated to recieve more than $20 million in direct or indirect state funding, and Madison more than $22 million, not counting fiscally constrained monies and other funds allocated by state agencies. The report specifically states that it reflects solely those items contained in the Conference Report on Senate Bill 2500A, the 2015-2016 General Appropriations Act, which the Governor approved on June 23. The Appropriations Act includes "all construction, right-of-way, or public transportation phases $1 million or greater that are included in the Tentative Work Program for fiscal year 2015-2016." It also includes projects "on certain approved lists associated with specific appropriations where the list may be referenced in proviso but the project is not specifically listed." Relative to Madison County, the report identifies: $50,000 for Ben Blair Park; $50,000 for phase 4 of the Lanier Field Recreation Area; $50,000 for the Louis Demotsis Park; and $50,000 for phase 1 of the Sumpter A. James Jr. Park.
Also in Madison County, the report identifies $1,228,116 for the School Readiness Program; $256,281 for the Voluntary Pre- Kindergarten Program; $9,288,408 in fixed capital outlay for Madison County High School; $1,572,715 for North Florida Community College (NFCC), under the Florida College System Lottery Program; and $5,951,182 for NFCC under the Florida College System Program. Finally in Madison County, the report identifies $61,203 for aerial photography for property tax oversight by the FDOR; $2,109,988 for the Sundown Creek Bridge on CR-158 (Sundown County Road); $1,540,000 for resurfacing of CR-53 south, from Lafayette to Midway Estates Street; and $69,972 in Public Schools Workforce Education Program funds. Relative to Jefferson County, the report identifies: $50,000 for the Lamont Schoolhouse rehabilitation project; $50,000 for the Monticello Opera House in the preservation grants category; $350,000 for the old high school A-Building restoration project; another $350,000 for the Opera House, under the historic properties restoration program; and $350,000 for the Dixie Plantation Main House restoration. Also in Jefferson County, the report identifies: $1,033,954 for bridge construction at I-10 over State Road 59 (SR-59); $836,453 for the School Readiness Program; and $39,957 for the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program. Finally in Jefferson County, the report identifies: $52,191 for aerial photography for property tax oversight by the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR); $1,552,918 for the resurfacing of SR-59 or Gamble Road, from Tram Road to US 27; $10,507,753 for the resurfacing of I-10, from US-19 to the Madison County line; $5363,598 for the resurfacing of I-10, from the Leon County line to just east of County Road 158, or Old Lloyd Road; and $87,664 for the Public Schools Workforce Education Program.