Okaloosa County and the new state budget: Which requests got funded? Which got vetoed?

OKALOOSA COUNTY — With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Ron DeSantis earmarked $13.3 million in the 2024-25 Florida state budget for various projects for Okaloosa County.

The funds for Okaloosa County were part of a $116.5 billion state budget for the upcoming year. DeSantis also vetoed $950 million for programs and projects statewide, including $5.3 million intended for the area.

The Republican-led Legislature approved the budget in March and it will be effective on July 1.

Here is what we know.

First Responder & Public Saftey Training Center: $8.5 million

The First Responder & Public Safety Training Center located at Northwest Florida State College is set to enhance training facilities for state and local responders. The upcoming renovations will include upgraded classrooms, tactical training rooms, emergency medical simulation spaces and search and rescue practice areas.

Stormwater improvements: $1.5 million

To alleviate stormwater drainage issues, the allocated funds will go toward areas in southern Okaloosa County.

The first is located on Lloyd Street in Fort Walton Beach, near the middle of a drainage basin that implements outdated stormwater infrastructure and ineffective outfall. The project will implement utilities to increase stormwater capacity, including Lloyd Street and Mayflower Avenue, with outfalls to Cinco Bayou.

To improve the bayou's water quality, a hydrodynamic separator — a device that uses a swirling water vortex to control pollution — will be installed.

Community re-entry programs: $1.25 million

To help facilitate a path to normal society and reduce recidivism, $1.25 million will be used to provide behavioral, educational and employment programs for currently incarcerated individuals within 12 months of release. The goal is to help them live independently and successfully once they are back in society.

These funds also will support dedicated reentry programs, postsecondary programs with local college partners, and a coding program. The money will be used in the Bay, Gadsden and Graceville correctional facilities, as well as Panama City and Miami North community release centers.

Four Prong Lake emergency outfall: $1 million

To prevent flood damage, $1 million will be spent on an emergency outfall at Four Prong Lake in Destin.

Due to the lake's position on the drainage basin, stormwater runoff is funneled to the lake, where there is currently no natural outlet. This causes the lake's elevation to climb.

Mental health and substance abuse pre-trial diversion program: $325,000

This money will help create a diversion program designed to keep certain individuals away from incarceration in local jails. Those who participate in the program will be placed into the program as a condition of their bond and pretrial release supervision.

This program will include services such as needs assessment, service referrals, case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, substance use treatment, recovery planning, health and wellness, and relapse prevention.

Judicial cyber-resilience initiative: $250,000

To ensure that the 1st Judicial Circuit's digital records remain protected, $250,000 will be used to create a comprehensive and redundant data backup solution. This will keep records safe in the event of a ransomware attack.

One Hopeful Place: $200,000

This money allows One Hopeful Place to remove 10 concrete wastewater treatment clarifiers from the existing property. With the open space, the facility will have five additional acres to build more shelter and affordable housing for the homeless.

Forever Warriors Initiative: $150,000

To support the military missions at Hurlburt, Duke Field, 6th Ranger Training Battalion, 7th Group and Eglin Air Force Base, the Forever Warriors Foundation will use $150,000 to help address needs in key areas, such as recruitment and retention resiliency, well-being support, reintegration support services and family and spousal support systems.

Harbor Channel dredge project: $100,000

State funds have been allocated to a dredging project to facilitate boat traffic in Destin Harbor and help larger vessels navigate safely in the area.

What got vetoed?

• Niceville Reclaimed Water Pipeline Project:- $3 million

• Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District aerial firefighting apparatus:- $1.5 million

• Stahlman Intersection Improvement Project: $200,000

• Fort Walton Beach Hill Avenue & Anchors Street complete street project design: $187,500

• Bridgeway Center, a pilot program for homeless outreach specialists to assist law enforcement: $120,000

• Baker Fire District tanker: $250,000

• Baker Fire District air compressor/purifier: $70,000

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Winners and losers: How Okaloosa projects fared in the new state budget