Additional funding for the City of Milton Riverwalk and Whiting Aviation Park were among the $461 million in cuts from the 2015-2016 state budget, which was signed by Florida Governor Rick Scott on Tuesday. Both items, originally voted upon by lawmakers on Friday as part of a $78 million budget, made the Governor’s veto list. While the Whiting Aviation Park was budgeted to receive $1.5 million, the Riverwalk project was budgeted for $688,713.
In a transmittal letter from Scott to Florida’s Secretary of State Ken Detzner, both projects were vetoed “because they circumvent current established review processes and funding is available through other sources.”
Although disappointed by the Governor’s decision, Milton City Planner Randy Jorgenson said Milton is not the lone Florida municipality to receive the unfortunate news.
“We had good legislative support,” Jorgenson said. “It’s unfortunate that the governor chose to veto that line in the appropriations bill, but at least we were not alone.”
The veto list for the appropriations bill is ten pages in length containing 443 line items.
Although the item was vetoed, Jorgenson said the city will press on with the Riverwalk project while seeking funding through grant opportunities, RESTORE Act funding and future legislation.
“We will move forward unabated,” he said. “We will not leave a stone unturned in trying to obtain the funding necessary to expand the Riverwalk.”
In a previously sent email, Jorgenson said the city’s Riverwalk continues to be of importance to Santa Rosa County residents and beyond.
“The City (of Milton) continues to provide its residents as well as visitors from the surrounding areas including Santa Rosa, Escambia, and Okaloosa Counties, and from across the nation, with free concerts, festivals, and other events that utilize the existing boardwalk and downtown facilities,” Jorgenson said. “The Riverfront extension will not only create the much needed room to provide for event attendees but as part of the larger vision presented in the city's Riverfront Master Plan, it will help to bridge the downtown area and the community's recreational and commercial opportunities.”
Earlier this year, Milton Council member Ashley Lay took a trip to Tallahassee in order to advocate for several Santa Rosa County projects including the Riverwalk. Although disappointed in the Governor’s action, like Jorgenson, Lay said the city will press on with the project.
“We cannot give up on these projects that can help us move our community forward,” Lay said in an email. “I will continue my efforts in trying to secure funding for the City of Milton's Riverwalk Master Plan and other important projects such as our Wastewater Treatment Plant.”
In addition to the Riverwalk project, Whiting Aviation Park will not see any additional state funding. The park, which is part of Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, could potentially bring in thousands of aviation-industry jobs to the county.
In a previous email, Shannon Ogletree, the director of economic development for Santa Rosa County, said the funding would have allowed county officials to develop construction plans for the park including capital improvements to the site.
Like Jorgenson and Lay, Ogltree is disappointed in the decision. However, Oglestree understands the governor’s fiscal responsibility.
“I can understand the situation he is in to make sure the entire state is in fiscal order,” Ogletree said in email. “I believe that he is doing what he feels is best for the State of Florida and as we move forward we will develop a new plan on Whiting Aviation Park and all our industrial parks to help further develop them so we can continue to promote Santa Rosa County and the State of Florida as the perfect climate for business.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Gov. Scott cuts Whiting Aviation Park, Milton Riverwalk from state budget