Tentative plan

Gregory C. Harrell, the Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, listens during a Marion County Commission meeting in Ocala on Nov. 7, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Gregory C. Harrell this week presented a tentative five-year Capital Improvement Program to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, outlining more than a half-billion dollars in proposed spending on infrastructure, public safety and community facilities between fiscal years 2026 and 2030.

The $581.9 million plan is not an appropriation but a roadmap of capital priorities that must be included in the county’s annual budget process to move forward, Harrell noted in his letter to commissioners.

“This document serves only as a capital outlay funding plan and does not represent an official appropriation of county funds,” he wrote.

County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes, however, asked the commissioners not to approve the plan so he could suggest revisions to it at a public hearing to adopt the county’s 2025/26 budget, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 22.

The plan offered during the Sept. 16 board meeting by the clerk spans multiple areas of government, with the largest expenditures targeted for transportation, utilities, fire and EMS, and the sheriff’s office. Most of the projects rely on $354.3 million that originates from the county’s 1% local option infrastructure sales surtax, approved by voters to run through 2045.

Transportation

Transportation improvements make up the single largest portion, at $239.4 million. Major projects include:

• Southwest 38th and 40th Street widening ($42.2 million, 2026–27): Road project 3.5 miles in length, begins at Southwest 80^th Avenue, and ends the intersection of Southwest 43^rd Court.
• Southwest 80th Avenue improvements ($18.2 million in 2026): Includes widening and extending key stretches to ease congestion. The road project 3.7 miles in length is a feeder road to Southwest State Road 200 and West State Road 40.
• County Road 484 widening, Phase 1 ($19.9 million, 2027–30): A major expansion of one of the county’s busiest east-west routes. Phase 1 of the project will add two lanes from Marion Oaks Boulevard to County Road 475A, a distance of 1.8 miles with sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
• Pavement preservation program ($9.25 million, 2026–30): Ongoing maintenance to extend the life of existing roadways.

Fire rescue and EMS

The plan proposes $57.9 million in Fire Rescue and EMS spending. Highlights include:

• Fire Station 24 in Marion Oaks ($7 million, 2026): A new facility to serve the rapidly growing community.
• Fire Station 9 at Orange Lake ($7.4 million, 2027): Replaces an aging station to better serve the northwestern portion of the county.
• Fire Station 17 Shores rebuild ($7.5 million, 2030): A full rebuild in one of the busiest fire districts.
• Fleet replacement: $13.4 million for fire vehicles and $19.6 million for EMS vehicles over the five years.

Sheriff’s office

Nearly $57 million is dedicated to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Projects include:

• New district offices: $4.5 million each for facilities in Marion Oaks, Silver Springs Shores and the Forest District (2028–29).
• Vehicle replacement: $34.6 million over five years to maintain the sheriff’s patrol fleet.
• Infrastructure upgrades: Including $550,000 for a solar panel heat exchanger and $500,000 to reroof the Sheriff’s Operations Center.

County facilities and justice

Several expansions and upgrades are planned for county buildings and the justice system:

• Justice Center buildouts: $5.9 million for the JC3 third-floor buildout (2028) and $1.9 million for a fourth-floor expansion (2029).
• Administration Building expansion ($2.2 million, 2026).
• Server room expansion and upgrade for the county’s Information Technology building ($2.1 million, 2026).
• Public Defender’s Office expansion ($1.9 million).

Utilities

With $107.6 million earmarked, utilities projects focus on growth and modernization:

• Automated meter replacement ($5.75 million, 2026–30).
• Northwest Regional Water Treatment Plant upgrades ($8.5 million, 2026–29).
• Majestic Oaks storage and pumps ($6.1 million, 2027–30).
• CR 484 wastewater repump station ($4 million, 2029–30).
• Lift station and sewer main rehabilitation ($4.5 million, 2026–30).

Airport and parks

The county airport is slated for $15 million in improvements, including:

• T-Hangar construction ($3.36 million, 2026–28).
• Runway 5/23 rehabilitation ($4.3 million, 2026–27).
• Fuel farm replacement ($1.4 million, 2029).

Parks and recreation projects totaling $14.2 million include improvements at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, a $1 million recreation hall remodel (2028), and $2.9 million in Rotary Field upgrades.

Animal services and medical

• New Animal Center ($23.3 million, ongoing).
• New Medical Examiner facility ($6 million).

Signage

• New signage on the county’s Visitor Center ($150,000)
• New signage for Marion Utilities ($135,000)
• Gateway signage facing northward at the 42^nd Street flyover over Interstate 75 ($5.7million) to match the one already done at Northwest 49^th Street for $5.5 million.