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When Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s $117.4 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, it came with $567 million in line-item vetoes. While the Governor emphasized debt repayment, tax relief, and investments in education and transportation, Brevard County saw a mixed outcome: over $14.1 million in local projects were vetoed, but many others made it through.

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Below is a breakdown of what Brevard gained and what it lost in this year’s budget, along with a look at several statewide vetoes that could also affect the region.

Projects Vetoed in Brevard County

Total Vetoed: $14,142,618

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Project	Amount Vetoed
Aviation Assembly and Fabrication Hangar (Space Coast Regional Airport)	$1,008,618
West Shore Jr./Sr. High School Expansion	$5,000,000
Cocoa Village Playhouse Renovations	$350,000
Sykes Creek Phase 2 Environmental Dredging	$4,324,000
Sykes Creek Septic-to-Sewer Conversion	$900,000
Banana River Living Shoreline Restoration	$500,000
Indialantic Riverside Park Pier & Kayak Launch	$350,000
Melbourne Village Stormwater Study	$180,000
West Melbourne Flood Risk Reduction Project	$350,000
Rockledge Traffic Light Revitalization	$600,000
Palm Bay Police Communications Center Upgrades	$80,000
Palm Bay Fiber Optic Expansion	$500,000

These vetoes affect local infrastructure, environmental cleanup, public safety technology, and school facilities. The loss of over $4.3 million for Sykes Creek dredging and $900,000 for septic-to-sewer conversion, in particular, may stall efforts to improve lagoon water quality.

Funded Projects That Were NOT Vetoed

Despite the cuts, several Brevard initiatives secured funding:

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Education & Workforce

• Eastern Florida State College – Health Sciences Institute Expansion: $8,000,000
• EFSC Aerospace Center of Excellence (Space Coast AeroCenter): $4,000,000
• Brevard Skill Center (Brevard Public Schools): $2,000,000
• EFSC Program Fund: $44,176,959
• EFSC Lottery Funding: $9,527,158
• EFSC Student Success Incentives: $1,107,389
• Public Schools Workforce Education Funds: $3,575,397
• Manufacturing Talent Asset Pipeline (TAP): $400,000

Public Safety & Emergency Services

• Palm Bay Emergency Operations Center & Fire Training Tower: $1,000,000
• Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Mental Health Co-Responder Program: $250,000
• Brevard Sheriff Regional Training Center: $10,000,000
• Brevard Sheriff Law Enforcement Education Initiative: $1,250,000

Environmental Infrastructure

• Cocoa Lift Station Flood Protection: $500,000
• West Melbourne Water Plant Emergency Generator: $350,000
• Cape Canaveral Shoreline Stabilization: $600,000
• Indian River Lagoon Countywide Sewer Connection: $2,900,000
• Indialantic Stormwater Drainage Improvements Phase 2: $1,764,078
• Turkey Creek Water Quality Improvement Project: $1,000,000
• Sebastian Inlet North and South Jetty Improvements: $1,000,000

Health & Human Services

• Aging Matters in Brevard (Meals on Wheels): $250,000 (correction: this was vetoed)
• Space Coast Health Foundation (Behavioral Health Stabilization): $500,000
• Veteran Housing & Homelessness Intervention Program: $250,000

Wildlife Conservation

• Brevard Zoo Manatee Rehab Facility: $1,500,000
• Hubbs Seaworld Indian River Lagoon Aquaculture Station: $964,700

Transportation & Infrastructure Projects

• Right-of-Way Land Acquisition: $15,450,000
• Seaport Grants (Port Canaveral likely included): $18,200,000
• Traffic Engineering Consultants: $1,768,852
• Transportation Planning Grants: $1,993,253
• Arterial Highway Construction: $48,964,461
• Aviation Development Grants: $87,000,000
• Construction Engineering Inspection Consultants: $8,605,569
• District Highway Maintenance Contracts: $2,793,126
• Highway Safety Construction Grants: $1,464,105
• Intrastate Highway Construction: $3,517,683
• Multiple Local Transportation Projects (e.g. West Central Avenue): Over $3M in total

Statewide Vetoes That Could Impact Brevard

While not Brevard-specific, several vetoes could indirectly affect the county:

• Disaster Recovery Mutual Aid Support: $7.5M vetoed; used to reimburse local governments for emergency operations
• FDLE Emergency Communications Infrastructure: $10M vetoed; affects statewide radio and data systems
• Water Quality Enhancements: $25M vetoed; could reduce grants for lagoon improvements
• Resilient Florida Local Planning Grants: $20M vetoed; Brevard cities previously received these for storm surge planning
• Workforce Capital Incentives: $5M vetoed; could affect future EFSC campus upgrades or CTE expansion

Budget Context and Political Backdrop

In his press release, Governor DeSantis touted the state’s “fiscal responsibility,” noting a $4.9 billion Rainy Day Fund and nearly $830 million toward accelerated debt repayment. The Governor’s office emphasized that the budget continues tax relief efforts, including permanent sales tax exemptions and a $2 billion tax cut package.

However, questions remain as to whether political tensions played a role in specific vetoes. While not directly addressed, recent fractures between the Governor and some Brevard-area legislators—particularly around education, book bans, and local control—may have influenced decisions.

Still, Brevard benefited from many key investments, particularly in higher education, emergency preparedness, and mental health infrastructure.

What This Means for Brevard Residents

This year’s budget reflects a mixed picture: meaningful wins in education and health services, alongside significant setbacks in environmental and infrastructure funding. Projects like the EFSC expansion and manatee rehab facility will bring real benefits, while the loss of dredging and stormwater dollars could have longer-term environmental consequences.

As always, The Space Coast Rocket will continue tracking how these funds—or lack thereof—impact your community.

Stay tuned for updates and reactions from your local leaders.

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