Local support grants project selection

2:08:25Okay. All right. I just that concerned me because we we may not do what we tried to do in that language. So okay, we have something very important to talk about. Uh no, we have Ralph's um memo here. And

2:08:42Prof.

2:08:45Right.

2:08:48So good afternoon, Commissioners. Um as I brought to your attention and I also sent you all an email as a follow-up to our discussions, um the 2022 legislative session, the Florida House included a budget item uh that passed, which set up a funding source for local support grants. It was capped at $175 million. And last Monday they opened up the grant process allowing the House members to submit projects.

2:09:19It's similar to legislative budget requests that are done during a normal right uh during the regular session. Um this is a one time only. It's never been done before. Once it's spent, it's spent. Uh these are for non-recurring projects. Um not much direction was given on how the projects um What should be considered. Um the decision will be made up to the appropriation staff and to the Legislative Budget

2:09:49Commission, which is made up of six members of the House, six members of the Senate, and they are at the call of the President and the Speaker uh to meet whenever. Um I did have some direction given to me from s from members uh suggesting we do not go after any veto projects. And because the amount is $175 million total and it's open to all local governments, that's county, city, schools,

2:10:19education entities, privately uh operated programs, uh to support local initiatives to limit the amount of the projects um to around two million dollars or less. Um there may be projects that exceed that um but the discretion on these projects are are really up to the uh to the leadership uh in the end um

2:10:47Has no say on these projects, uh, cannot weigh in on them. Uh he's already approved the the budget and it was included in there. That being said, I did reach out to the departments and and get suggestions for projects um within the county and I submitted that list to you. There are several dredge projects Um a a bridge project, Animal Services uh had a project uh for their veterinary services, um two par park projects and

2:11:17a Florida Sports Coast project on there.

2:11:22And so what my goal is, since the representatives have a date of July fifteenth, is to get the uh project to our sponsor. um as we um move forward so they can get these in in a timely fashion. the uh staff will review it and then they'll report back. um to the local entity to let them know if it was approved and then we have to submit additional forms that they have to get in by August tenth. I then see the Legislative Budget Commission being

2:11:53called and them dispersing the funds at that time probably before the end of the year.

2:11:58Madam Chair. Yeah.

2:11:59Just

2:11:59to reiterate, um your th two projects, tr let's try to keep them under two million so we have a chance to get them.

2:12:04Yeah, and and at the most two projects don't want to exceed this exceed that.

2:12:08Since I'm still talking, I'll I'll give you two. It's I know I listen, I'm going to the list now, these are in my area. Um I I'd say Robert Strickland, Seawall, Beach Sand, one point eight, and Inclotte River, additional boat ramps and parking one point eight. Second, there's two. Second? All right. That good for everybody?

2:12:23Yeah, I did want to talk BMX but I think it might be we could ask for less. But Okay. I'm just happy that people thought enough of the BMX. That that that's gonna be huge for the county when we get to pull that out.

2:12:39Okay,

2:12:40second.

2:12:44Go right ahead, please.

2:12:45No, we're in discussion. Well no, he was gonna say something else.

2:12:48I can go after that. Go ahead. Okay.

2:12:49All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Okay, now you can speak.

2:12:57Are you happy?

2:13:00I know you are.

2:13:03Uh but let me just take this as an opportunity. So after the elections in November, they'll start committee week in in December, they're gonna go ahead and start opening up for the next year's budget. So we really need for you all to reach out to the departments and start working about projects within your district so we can move forward and b in a timely fashion and and have our projects so we can start working in them. So I always say say that every year. Um so session starts March seventh. So we really want to be prepared way before

2:13:33the end of the year on what projects we're going to submit for next year's budget. Thank you.