Some of Florida’s most beloved universities could not escape the attention of Florida TaxWatch.
The fiscal watchdog group issued its annual list of Budget Turkeys in the budget passed by the Florida Legislature (construction projects are on pages 15 and 16). The list went live as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget team conducts its own ongoing analysis of what should be vetoed in the state budget.
TaxWatch’s list includes nearly $169 million in university construction projects benefiting the University of Florida (UF), the biggest chunk of that is for a new $75-million UF Jacksonville campus, the Health and Financial Tech Graduate Education Center. That DeSantis has already voiced support for that project remaining in the budget.
But other UF funding theoretically remains at risk of vetoes. That includes $35 million for a School of Music addition, $20 million for a marine bioscience laboratory in St. Johns County, $11 million for a research and collaboration center on the main campus, and $12 million for a new gym at the P.K. Yonge Lab School.
While UF maintains Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences campuses all over the state, TaxWatch puts on its list an $11 million Center for Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture at the Alachua campus, along with $2 million for the Lakewatch Building and $2.75 for expansion of the Microbiology and Cell Sciences Teaching Lab.
TaxWatch also flagged the $30 million in funding for the new building for the Florida Atlantic University College of Dentistry as an item that should be vetoed.
Florida State University (FSU) also gains attention. Turkeys include $10 million for a Veterans Legacy Complex, $4 million for a Hydrogen Research Center and $1.5 million for its Arts District, as well as $4 million for a Health Panama City Academic Research Center in Bay County.
Plenty of universities with money in the budget escaped the Turkey hunt this year. Some $50 million is going to New College of Florida in the wake of a takeover by DeSantis-appointed trustees.
Plenty of universities with money in the budget escaped the Turkey hunt this year. Some $50 million is going to New College of Florida in the wake of a takeover by DeSantis-appointed trustees.
While FAMU didn't quite receive the love from Legislative budget writers that UF and FSU did, it avoided the attention from the Tax Watch budget hawks.
FAMU projects
This year the Florida Legislature included $10 million in recurring funds to elevate FAMU's student success efforts and to increase first-time licensure pass rates in key programs, and increase graduation rates; $9.2 million to begin planning for a new Chemical and Biological Research Building; $13.5 million to renovate Howard Hall; and $1.5 million in recurring for the FAMU Pharmacy School in Crestview, FL.