DeSantis slashes $68.8 million from state budget in projects for Miami-Dade and Broward
Local programs in Miami-Dade and Broward focused on youth crime prevention, pedestrian safety and water quality were among the dozens of projects cut by Gov. Ron DeSantis from the state budget passed by lawmakers this year.
Florida’s two largest counties saw $68.8 million in local funding requests struck from the budget by DeSantis’ veto pen. But the two counties also kept a lot of money: $3.5 billion out of the nearly $3.6 billion they requested. The governor issued nearly $1 billion in line items vetoes in total statewide from the $116.5 billion 2024-25 budget.
Among the more than $200 million in total water project vetoes statewide, $18.1 million came from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. DeSantis said at a press conference Wednesday that he didn’t oppose the requests but wanted local communities to ask for the money through the state Department of Environmental Protection.
At least $500 million is available in the state’s program, DeSantis said.
“All those needs will be met,” DeSantis added.
Among the Miami-Dade projects preserved are $3 million for the David Beckham commercial complex and soccer stadium, $50,000 for the Miami Diaper Bank’s Mobile Diaper Pantry Program, and $100 million for a medical center located on Florida International University’s campus.
The largest cuts to both counties include $2.8 million for Florida International University’s Traffic Analytic Solution project, $2.5 million for the Miami South Golden Pines Street Improvements project, and $2.2 million for Broward County’s WIN project, which provides a specialized curriculum for high-school student athletes focusing on financial literacy.
DeSantis also cut projects in both Broward and Miami-Dade to help low-income people fight foreclosures and a PortMiami workforce needs assessment to help mitigate a shortage of skilled employees.
Below are all the vetoes for these two counties. If you want to know more about a specific program, click on the House or Senate funding request next to the project title to see the original ask, as well as the lawmaker who initiated it.
BROWARD COUNTY VETOES Total = $23 M
Index | Project Title | Total |
1 | $2,247,948 | |
2 | Regional Entrepreneurship Centers and Small Business Loan Fund (HF 1488) (SF 1258) | $2,000,000 |
3 | City of Fort Lauderdale Sidewalk Repairs & ADA Upgrades (HF 2500) (SF 2015) | $1,500,000 |
4 | $1,000,000 | |
5 | Dixie Highway Safety and Resilience Project (HF 2016) (SF 1161) | $1,000,000 |
6 | Lauderdale By The Sea Public Safety Facility Design (HF 2205) (SF 2144) | $1,000,000 |
7 | City of Coral Springs - Everglades Greenway Loop (HF 2859) (SF 2805) | $800,000 |
8 | Lauderhill Lift Station #25 Reconstruction Relocation (HF 2376) (SF 2665) | $750,000 |
9 | 94th Avenue Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Tamarac (HF 1730) (SF 2364) | $716,533 |
10 | Town of Pembroke Park Hardening / Mitigation Improvements for Town -Police Facility (HF 1249) / (SF 1170) | $562,000 |
11 | Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier Repairs (HF 1325) (SF 1044) | $550,000 |
12 | Weston Wastewater Lift Stations Hardening and Rehabilitation (HF 1840) (SF 1412) | $550,000 |
13 | Miramar Town Center - Pedestrian Underpass (HF 2683) (SF 1836) | $500,000 |
14 | $500,000 | |
15 | City of Coral Springs - Public Safety Improvements (HF 1261) / (SF 1990) | $500,000 |
16 | Wilton Manors Transparency In Public Safety Project (HF 2496) / (SF 2821) | $500,000 |
17 | Old Plantation Water Control District Stormwater Pump Stations Rehabilitation and Automation (HF 1578) (SF 1088) | $500,000 |
18 | Pompano Beach NW 16th Lane Stormwater Project (HF 1896) (SF 1006) | $500,000 |
19 | Crockett Foundation, Inc. Innovation Lab (HF 2025) (SF 1111) | $500,000 |
20 | Cooper City Hiatus Road Traffic Safety Improvement - Phase II (HF 1771) (SF 3056) | $470,000 |
21 | Southwest Ranches SW 163rd Avenue Drainage Improvement (HF 1541) (SF 1104) | $435,080 |
22 | Pembroke Pines Utility Emergency Operations Center (HF 2685) (SF 2052) | $400,000 |
23 | Sunrise Fire Rescue Regional Highway Response Equipment (HF 2855) (SF 2204) | $400,000 |
24 | City of Hollywood - New Police Headquarters Backup Generator (HF 1593) (SF 1058) | $400,000 |
25 | Lauderdale Lakes Fire Station Walk-in Triage Phase (HF 2783) (SF 1672) | $389,000 |
26 | Hillsboro Beach Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project (HF 2505) (SF 3266) | $375,000 |
27 | Margate Front Line Rescue and Aerial Truck (HF 1223) (SF 1693) | $372,007 |
28 | $320,000 | |
29 | Margate 800MHz Radio Tower Repair Upgrades (HF 1222) (SF 1308) | $300,000 |
30 | Miramar Citywide Streetlight Improvements (HF 2335) (SF 1835) | $300,000 |
31 | City of West Park Youth Crime Prevention Program (HF 2336) (SF 2493) | $300,000 |
32 | Parkland Fire Rescue and Alarm Control Panel Improvements (HF 1148) (SF 2871) | $250,000 |
33 | Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida - Condo & HOA Foreclosure Defense Pilot Project (HF 2325) / (SF 1158) | $250,000 |
34 | $250,000 | |
35 | Broward County Student Athlete Mentoring Expansion Program (HF 2207) (SF 1334) | $250,000 |
36 | North Lauderdale Regional Training & Emergency Operations Center (HF 2046) (SF 3462) | $250,000 |
37 | Miramar Real Time Crime Center Phase III (HF 2682) / (SF 1541) | $200,000 |
38 | Thomas D. Stephanis Boys & Girls Club Teen Center/Facility Improvements (HF 1776) (SF 1649) | $200,000 |
39 | Davie - Shenandoah Drainage Improvements (HF 3292) (SF 2054) | $200,000 |
40 | Fellowship Recovery Community - Peer Specialists Recovery Support (HF 1579) | $120,000 |
41 | Broward Sheriff’s Office Substance Use Disorder Co-Responder Program (HF 2374) | $82,375 |
42 | Dellenbach Foundation Fresh Start Program (HF 2917) (SF 2817) | $81,000 |
43 | Coconut Creek South Potable Water Line Retrofit Project (HF 2056) (SF 2840) | $75,000 |
44 | Riverland Road Traffic Safety Improvements - Fort Lauderdale (HF 2786) (SF 2721) | $60,000 |
45 | Miramar Real Time Crime Center Phase III (HF 2682) / (SF 1541) | $50,000 |
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY VETOES: Total = $45.8 M
Index | Project Title | Total |
1 | Florida International University - Traffic Analytic Solution (HF 3662) (SF 3697) | $2,775,000 |
2 | Miami South Golden Pines Street Improvements (HF 2847) (SF 1319) | $2,500,000 |
3 | St. Thomas University - Institute of Law, Liberty & Capitalism (HF 2787) (SF 3562) | $2,172,500 |
4 | Citrus Grove School Pedestrian Safety Initiative (HF 2116) (SF 1479) | $1,978,000 |
5 | Hialeah Gardens South District Water Main Improvements (HF 2788) (SF 1739) | $1,500,000 |
6 | South Miami Septic to Sewer Conversion Sub Area K (HF 2570) (SF 2331) | $1,500,000 |
7 | North Miami Beach Traffic Calming Projects (HF 3651) (SF 2744) | $1,400,000 |
8 | Miami-Dade County Eviction Prevention Program (HF 2681) (SF 1552) | $1,349,190 |
9 | Triangle Park and Children’s Academy Pedestrian Safety Initiative (HF 1035) (SF 1081) | $1,200,000 |
10 | Doral Police Department Mobile Command Vehicle (HF 2875) / (SF 1837) | $1,000,000 |
11 | Miami-Dade County Senior Congregate Meals (HF 3431) (SF 2803) | $1,000,000 |
12 | Miami Springs - Miller Drive Roadway Improvements (HF 3144) (SF 1722) | $1,000,000 |
13 | $1,000,000 | |
14 | West Miami Potable Water System Improvements Phase V (HF 2529) (SF 1160) | $1,000,000 |
15 | $1,000,000 | |
16 | Miami-Dade County - Anti-Violence Initiative: Community Healing & Mental Health (HF 1155) (SF 1598) | $990,000 |
17 | Hialeah Wastewater Improvements Pump Station 006 (HF 2452) (SF 1968) | $960,000 |
18 | Coral Gables Citywide Sidewalk Construction and Replacement (HF 2534) (SF 1798) | $800,000 |
19 | $800,000 | |
20 | $750,000 | |
21 | $750,000 | |
22 | The South Dade Trail Multi-Use/Mobility Corridor (HF 1513) (SF 1804) | $750,000 |
23 | Virginia Gardens Village Phase II Central Drainage Improvements (HF 3146) (SF 1711) | $700,000 |
24 | Southwest Social Services (recurring base appropriations project) | $653,501 |
25 | Miami Lakes - NW 154th Street Turn Lane Extension Transportation Improvements (HF 1349) (SF 2807) | $630,000 |
26 | Village of Virginia Gardens Roadway Improvements (HF 3141) (SF 2740) | $600,000 |
27 | West Perrine - Faith Based Support for Youth Activities & Feeding Elders (HF 2395) (SF 2557) | $600,000 |
28 | Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department Eureka Station 71 (HF 2115) (SF 1704) | $500,000 |
29 | South Miami Police Department Radio Upgrade Program (HF 2980) / (SF 1824) | $500,000 |
30 | Cuban American Bar Association Pro Bono Project, Inc. (HF 1074) / (SF 1025) | $500,000 |
31 | Sweetwater Roadway and Drainage Improvements (HF 2725) (SF 1736) | $500,000 |
32 | MACTown Main Campus Residential Hardening and Security Upgrades (HF 2292) (SF 2743) | $500,000 |
33 | Miami Gardens Leslie Estates Road/Drainage Project (HF 2687) (SF 2066) | $500,000 |
34 | Miami Lakes Septic To Sewer Phase 1 Project (HF 2450) (SF 1690) | $500,000 |
35 | Miami-Dade County Bird Road Commercial Corridor Sewer Extension Project (HF 2464) (SF 2328) | $500,000 |
36 | $482,528 | |
37 | $450,000 | |
38 | North Bay Village - Harbor Island Roadway Improvements (HF 1819) (SF 1679) | $425,000 |
39 | North Bay Village Island Wastewater Pump Station Phase III (HF 2135) (SF 1876) | $425,000 |
40 | Emergency Response, Reunification, and Cultural Center Security Upgrades (HF 3133) (SF 3574) | $400,000 |
41 | Indian Creek Village Island Bridge Project Phase 1 (HF 3103) (SF 1123) | $400,000 |
42 | Biscayne Park Storm Drain Installation Phases 1B, 2 and 3 (HF 1271) (SF 1178) | $400,000 |
43 | Miami-Dade Roadway Resurfacing Project - SW 160 Street (HF 1987) (SF 1805) | $387,500 |
44 | Vision Zero Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Grand Avenue and Douglas Road (HF 3246) (SF 1810) | $375,000 |
45 | Miami Bridge Host Homes Program for Homeless Youth (HF 2455) (SF 2854) | $350,000 |
46 | Florida’s Historical Deeds - Preserving Early Property Records (HF 1806) (SF 3556) | $350,000 |
47 | Coral Gables Golden Gate Stormwater Improvement Project (HF 3217) (SF 1797) | $350,000 |
48 | $350,000 | |
49 | Arthur & Polly Mays 6-12 Conservatory of the Arts (HF 2150) (SF 2560) | $300,000 |
50 | Cuban American Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Services - Low Income HOA and Condominium Foreclosure Defense Pilot (HF 2844) / (SF 1769) | $300,000 |
51 | Coral Gables Comprehensive Water Quality Assessment (HF 2535) (SF 2333) | $300,000 |
52 | Virginia Gardens Village Pump Station Rehabilitation Storm Water Master Plan GIS Update (HF 3145) (SF 1712) | $300,000 |
53 | Village of Key Biscayne - Emergency Management Planning, Training and Exercise (HF 1645) (SF 1611) | $250,000 |
54 | Banyan Health System - Dade Chase Facility for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Beds (HF 1150) (SF 2475) | $250,000 |
55 | Vision Zero Pedestrian Safety Improvements - SW 2 Street (HF 1137) (SF 2626) | $250,000 |
56 | Hialeah Housing Authority Elderly Affordable Housing - Hoffman Gardens Phase II (HF 3350) (SF 1748) | $250,000 |
57 | City of Doral - Complete Streets Program (HF 2504) (SF 1741) | $250,000 |
58 | Miami-Dade County Saint Thomas School Sewer Service Extension and Road Improvements Project (HF 2466) (SF 2339) | $250,000 |
59 | Miami-Dade County Stormwater Drainage Improvement Project for NW 39 St From NW 29 Ave to NW 30 Ave (HF 2836) (SF 2846) | $250,000 |
60 | South Miami - Manor Lane Culvert Replacement & Bridge Repairs (HF 3243) (SF 1613) | $235,000 |
61 | Crandon Boulevard - Multimodal Traffic Flow and Safety Improvements (HF 1646) (SF 1793) | $212,500 |
62 | $200,000 | |
63 | Voices for Children Foundation - Foster Home Diversion and Mental Health Programs (HF 1024) (SF 1581) | $200,000 |
64 | Surfside - Inclusive Mobility and Accessibility Enhancement Project (HF 3096) (SF 2849) | $200,000 |
65 | Jewish Community Services of Florida - Miami-Dade/Monroe Crisis Helpline Equity (HF 1471) (SF 1515) | $180,000 |
66 | Non-Vehicular Traffic Lane Safety Hardening Project (HF 1036) (SF 2330) | $150,000 |
67 | Village of Key Biscayne Traffic Data Analysis (HF 1642) (SF 1794) | $137,500 |
68 | SFHCC Minority Education Enrichment Program (HF 2640) (SF 2559) | $125,000 |
69 | H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Everyday) Mission (HF 2778) (SF 1721) | $105,000 |
70 | $100,000 | |
71 | Casa Valentina - Foster Care to Independent Living (HF 1552) (SF 1591) | $100,000 |
72 | Here’s Help Residential - RISE Project for Infrastructure and Security Enhancements (HF 2418) (SF 1086) | $100,000 |
73 | Aventura Police and Emergency Response Radio Replacement & Conversion (HF 1938) (SF 2019) | $100,000 |
74 | Miami-Dade Fire Rescue - Telehandler Replacement (HF 1335) (SF 1697) | $87,500 |
75 | $75,000 | |
76 | $75,000 |
Times/Herald staff reporter Lawrence Mower contributed to this report.
