At least $102M could flow to Pinellas County under House plan

Pinellas County could be in line to capture about $102 million in state funding, mostly for education and workforce training initiatives.

The proposed House budget includes $32.1 million for school readiness programs facilitated through local early learning coalitions. That’s about half as much as neighboring Hillsborough County, which is in line to receive nearly $75 million. But it’s twice as much as Manatee County to the south, which has just over $16 million earmarked in the House spending plan. The funding levels are based largely on student population.

Similarly, Pinellas County would get more than $28 million for local School District workforce education programs, which is also about half what Hillsborough would receive under the spending plan ($59.3 million) and nearly three times as much as Manatee ($10.5 million).

For voluntary pre-kindergarten programs, Pinellas is in line to get $13.4 million, less than half the Hillsborough amount, which is nearly $31 million.

Funding levels then take a big dive for Pinellas County-related programs and projects.

Based on a cursory search of key words within the House’s more than 500-page proposed General Appropriations Act, the next-highest expenditure lands at $2 million each for the Seminole Jr. Warhawks’ youth sports field improvements; special needs emergency generators for county hurricane shelters; and for St. Petersburg College as part of PIPELINE funds (Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education) to reward performance and excellence within state university nursing education programs. Pinellas County is in line to receive another $1.6 million in PIPELINE funds.

Another $1.9 million would flow to the county for sanitary sewer pump station electrical improvements.

A few initiatives are in line to nab $1.5 million from the state, including the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco and Pinellas, which includes $400,000 for an advanced fall detection initiative.

Clearwater is also in line for $1.5 million for rehabilitation of a lift station, while St. Pete Beach would get the same amount to improve its Fire Station No. 22.

The YMCA of the Suncoast and Pinellas County Schools have a $1 million earmark for a co-located facility, which would allow the YMCA to locate within an underutilized space on public school property. The proposed amount is half of what was requested.

Another $1 million is contemplated for hurricane hardening at the Lealman Exchange, also half of what was requested.

The House is proposing $1 million in recurring and $635,000 in nonrecurring funds for various reentry programs for people who are under community supervision post-release or have served time at a Department of Corrections facility, participated in pretrial intervention programs or served time in a juvenile justice facility. The money would help those transitioning back into the communities and workforce within Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco or Polk counties.

The House also proposes $1 million for a wastewater inflow and infiltration project at Pass-a-Grille Beach.

The spending plan would include $918,000 for St. Petersburg College for the 2+2 Student Success Incentive Fund, which supports college efforts to help students enrolled in associate or degree programs transfer to baccalaureate degree programs.

In St. Pete Beach, $912,000 is proposed for reconstruction of Boca Ciega Drive.

Another $690,000 is proposed for Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Hillsborough counties for the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community services; noncustodial parent employment program.

Largo is also in line to receive funds, with $600,000 proposed for flood mitigation at Allen’s Creek.

St. Petersburg College is also in line for $562,000 for the Work Florida Student Success Incentive fund to align career education programs with statewide and regional workforce demands.

Other proposed spending amounts include:

— $560,000 for McGough Nature Park boardwalk replacement in Largo.

— $500,000 for the Keep Seniors Off of the Meals on Wheels and Dining Pinellas County Waitlist.

— $500,000 for Pinellas Park 60th Street drainage and safe routes to school.

— $500,000 for Pinellas Park rehabilitation of lift station 30.

— $500,000 for Area 6 roadway improvements in Madeira Beach.

— $500,000 for a Redington Beaches fire suppression unit

— $500,000 for the Elevate Bayshore program in Clearwater.

— $400,000 for St. Pete Free Clinic for food cost mitigation.

— $400,000 for backup generators at Clearwater lift stations.

— $400,000 for ARK Innovation Center at Pinellas County Schools.

— $375,000 for the Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough County Youth Advocate Program.

— $375,000 for Pinellas Park pond dredging in Autumn run.

— $300,000 for a Tarpon Springs water main renewal project.

— $250,000 for an Applied Mental Health Certificate for First Responders at St. Petersburg College.

— $245,000 for a Menorah Life St. Pete security and safety initiative.

— $150,000 for Pinellas Preserve for preservation land acquisition.

— $150,000 for felony and/or misdemeanor pretrial or post-adjudicatory veterans’ treatment intervention programs.

— $100,000 for a high-water rescue vehicle for Dunedin.

— $88,000 for the Tarpon Springs Pinellas Trail Culvert Project.

— $70,000 for AMPLIFY Clearwater Chamber Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy.