By DOTTY NIST
In all, $89 million was appropriated by the Florida Legislature this year for Walton County, Florida Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) revealed at the outset of the Oct. 28 Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting.
The senate president was a guest at the meeting, which was held at the South Walton Annex.
“I think that’s a new record,” Gaetz said of the state appropriations for the county.
He provided the commissioners with written information on appropriations of benefit to Walton County, including those applying to the region as whole.
Gaetz received particular thanks from the county commissioners for his help in obtaining funding for a wastewater treatment facility and other infrastructure at the Mossy Head Industrial Park— and for the ongoing four-laning of U.S. 331 and the Choctawhatchee Bay bridge.
Four million dollars were appropriated for the Mossy Head Industrial Park wastewater treatment plant and $3 million for infrastructure at the county-owned industrial park.
Gaetz observed that some $57 million of this year’s appropriations to Walton County were for Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) projects that are “front-loaded for next year.” He said he had been aware that these had been projects that were very much on the mind of the county commission and ones to which the assigned a high priority.
Gaetz expressed thanks to the BCC for their “clarity” in making the county’s needs known to him and other members of the area’s legislative delegation. He expressed hope that the commission and legislators would be able to continue in “helpful conversations” of this nature during the next legislative session as well, so that legislators would be able to focus on “what matters most” to Walton County, in terms of appropriations, legislation, and avoidance of legislation that would have negative impacts on the county.
As a token of appreciation from Walton County, Gaetz was presented with a miniature semi truck bearing the logo of Love’s Travel Stops, the first business to locate at the Mossy Head Industrial Park. Also featured on the truck were the Walton County seal and the words, “Driving Jobs to Walton County.”
Kelly Horton of Heffley & Associates, Walton County’s state lobbyists, was also present and the meeting and was recognized for her work in securing funding to meet the needs of the county.
In addition to the appropriations discussed, the list furnished by Gaetz noted other items benefitting Walton County under the categories of education, health care, water projects, and other projects.
Under water projects, approximately, almost $418,000 is being provided to fund a water main replacement in DeFuniak Springs and, in Freeport, $2+ million will pay for water system upgrades and expansions and to tie Freeport’s water system to DeFuniak Springs’ system.
Health care appropriations include a $350,000 one-time appropriation to the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), along with a $100,000 recurring amount to CAC, and a $750,000 non-recurring appropriation to Children’s Action Teams for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Walton in connection with the COPE Center. In addition, there was a $35.4 million increase to raise the personal needs allowance from $35 to $105 per month for residents in Walton County and other nursing homes.
Under education, $58,579,329 in funding to Walton County was noted through the Florida Education Finance Program, which goes to the operating costs of school districts. This represented an increase of $2.9+ million for the new fiscal year. $100,000 was also identified to fund teacher training at the E.O Wilson Biophilia Center in natural sciences.
South Walton County’s coastal dune lakes are to benefit from $623,000 in appropriations to fund environmental assessments, culvert replacement and the creation of an environmental management plan for the dune lakes.
Sinfonia Gulf Coast is receiving a $60,174 cultural support grant, and Walton County libraries are obtaining $22,800 in aid funds.
In addition, the Walton County Fair Association was appropriated $750,000 to repair deteriorating and unsafe buildings.
