Saint Leo University, Town of St. Leo land nearly $3M in state budget

A trio of budget projects worth nearly $3 million survived Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen, delivering a significant win for Saint Leo University and the tiny Pasco County town it calls home.

The funding, included in the $117.6 billion budget DeSantis signed this week, provides $1.2 million to expand the university’s nursing program, $602,000 for its Cybersecurity and Cyberforensics Training and Education Center, and $995,000 for stormwater infrastructure supporting the Town of St. Leo’s proposed town center.

“Our Benedictine mission has always been rooted in service,” said Jim Burkee, President of Saint Leo University.

“We are grateful to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Danny Burgess, Rep. Randy Maggard, and the Florida Legislature for supporting that mission and investing in a future workforce dedicated to serving others. This funding will prepare the next generation of nurses, cybersecurity professionals, and other in-demand workers, strengthen Florida’s workforce pipeline, and expand opportunities that directly meet the needs of students, employers, and the community we proudly call home.”

The nursing money addresses a statewide priority: Florida faces a projected shortage of nearly 60,000 nurses by 2035, according to the Florida Hospital Association. Saint Leo’s program has grown quickly to meet demand, jumping from 77 incoming pre-nursing students in Fall 2024 to 124 in Fall 2025, with enrollment expected to top 150 this Fall. The project will reconfigure existing campus space to add three classrooms, a nursing lab and faculty offices, along with simulation equipment and classroom technology upgrades.

The cybersecurity investment will fund construction of a Security Operations Center and a cyberforensics laboratory, giving students hands-on training in digital defense, network monitoring and digital forensics. It also will support recruiting additional faculty for the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs — a bid to help close a stubborn national talent gap that has left hundreds of thousands of cybersecurity jobs unfilled, a shortage the university says could exceed 1 million professionals by 2027.

Zephyrhills Republican Sen. Burgess and Dade City Republican Rep. Maggard sponsored the budget requests.

“They believe in our vision for the future of the Saint Leo community and the impact these investments will have,” said Stephen Kubasek, Vice President of University Advancement, who oversees the university’s legislative relations. “These appropriations will create lasting benefits for students, employers, and residents by expanding opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and building on the momentum underway at Saint Leo.”

The town’s $995,000 will support stormwater improvements for the proposed St. Leo Town Center, a mixed-use development envisioned as a central gathering place for residents, visitors and the university. Beyond a new History Center opening this Summer, plans call for restaurants, retail and market space, walking trails, a pavilion, botanical gardens and shaded public gathering areas.

“The improvements made possible with the state’s investment will enhance the quality of life for our residents, support the university’s continued growth, and strengthen our community for years to come,” said Mayor Mike D’Ambrosio.

Founded in 1889 by the Order of Saint Benedict, Saint Leo University is the oldest Catholic university in Florida and one of the largest in the Southeast.

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Ed. note: This story was drafted with assistance from AI. Editorial judgment, sourcing, and final review were performed by Peter Schorsch and the Florida Politics editorial team.