Millions for Marion in new state budget, while two projects fail to make the cut

The new state budget kicked in July 1, sending nearly $82 million for projects and programs specific to Ocala/Marion County.

Some of the bigger-dollar items for fiscal year 2020-21 include:

• $25 million for the College of Central Florida’s operating budget
• $17 million for early learning services, including school readiness and voluntary Pre-K programs
• $18.2 million for a road-resurfacing project
• $7 million for right-of-way acquisition along U.S. 441 in Ocala as well as at opposite ends of State Road 40 and County Road 484 from Southwest 20th Avenue to CR 475A
• $4 million for Marion County Public Schools’ workforce readiness programs

Here are some of the details.

The Florida Department of Transportation in May 2021 plans to begin resurfacing CR 25A (West Anthony Road) on Ocala’s north side to the U.S. 441- 301 split, which spans 8.8 miles. The project costs $18.2 million.

Some rights of way the FDOT plans to buy are part of a plan to widen and rebuild SR 40 from the end of the four-lane section in Silver Springs to a point east of CR 314, a stretch of about 5.3 miles. According to the agency, the new road eventually will feature a pair of 12-foot-wide lanes in each direction separated by a 40-foot-wide grass median. A 12-foot-wide multiuse trail will run along the north side of the road from Northeast 60th Court to Ray Wayside Park near the Ocklawaha River Bridge.

The 2021 projects are the prelude to replacing the bridge — a $102.8 million effort that will use two bridges with lower profiles.

Two local projects failed to cross the finish line, courtesy of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s veto pen.

The governor axed $1 million the city of Ocala sought to extend Southwest 44th Avenue from State Road 200 to a point just south of U.S. 27. Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, originally requested $3 million for the project.

According to Senate records, the project involved a four-lane connector with sidewalks and bike lanes to link SR 200, SR 40, and U.S. 27. Perry wrote that the project would improve traffic in the area by establishing a parallel corridor for the west side of Interstate 75.

“Although a veto was not the outcome we were hoping for in this situation, the city still plans on moving forward with the SW 44^th Avenue extension project,” city spokeswoman Ashley Dobbs said.

“If the million dollars in funding had been approved, it would have offset project costs associated with creating the two-lane road, and alleviating traffic conditions on State Road 200. This project is still part of the long-range transportation plan, and we will continue to seek additional grant opportunities.”

The other project, requested by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Lady Lake, entailed renovating the Belleview Community Center for a program by Hands of Mercy Everywhere, or HOME, a Belleview nonprofit devoted to helping teenaged mothers and at-risk girls.

Senate documents indicate the funding would help create a “hands-on” job training program for people 16 to 24. That instruction would run for three months and be designed to prepare students to work in the hospitality industry.

The concept was to revamp the community center into a hotel-style banquet room and kitchen. The renovation would include new central heating and air conditioning, refinished wood floors, two upgraded bathrooms, new space for offices and storage, exterior handicap ramps and decking and extra parking.

Baxley initially sought $951,000 for the project, records show. The final amount cut by DeSantis was $200,000.

In response, Diane Schofield, HOME’s founder and CEO, said, “We will do what we always do: Wait for God’s timing.”

“Having that building is a blessing. Knowing it will take $200,000 to restore it, bring it to code, buy curriculum material, get it furnished, redo the kitchen area is overwhelming.”