Commissioners set legislative priorities
BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Clay County’s lobbyist told commissioners during a workshop that state lawmakers are predicting overflowing tax revenues for the state next year, and that Clay County should take advantage of the burgeoning state coffers.
“I heard something this week in Tallahassee I’ve never heard before in my career,” lobbyist Joe Mobley told commissioners. “I heard an appropriations subcommittee chairman say: ‘We’re flush with cash.’ Never, ever heard that before.”
On Nov. 3, the state announced that its September revenues were 15.7% above its forecast, with tax collections exceeding expectations by $443.2 million.
In August, economists predicted the state would collect $2.6 billion more in the current fiscal year and the following year than in 2020-2021. Now it appears those surpluses will grow larger.
The state also has almost $6 billion in unspent federal coronavirus stimulus money.
Commissioners set their top three priorities as $10 million for a jail expansion, $5 million for rural broadband and $250,000 to fund a juvenile justice housing initiative.
Commissioners also said they would seek funding for area roads, including widening SR 16 from two lanes to four, and to make operational improvements to Blanding Boulevard and Wells Road.
Commissioners also discussed improving countywide drainage and expanding local trails to connect with those of surrounding counties.
Now or never for airport water and sewer
Keystone Heights City Manager Lynn Rutkowski was the only member of the public to address the commissioners during the workshop.
She reminded them of the city’s top funding priority: water and sewer service for the Keystone Heights Airport.
“We’re told that the price tag is upwards of $30 million,” she said of extending Clay County Utility Authority’s service to the facility.
Rutkowski added that the city and airport are footing the bill for a $135,000 feasibility study for water and sewer service, and once that study is complete, the city will have firmer numbers on the project’s costs.
She added that the city and airport took on the cost in order to fast track the project and to have it shovel-ready as soon as possible. She said city leaders are hoping to have the study in hand within 90 days.
Rutkowski told commissioners that after consulting with Congresswoman Kat Cammack and other lawmakers, city leaders believe it’s now-or-never for getting water and sewer at the airport funded.
“In several conversations that we’ve had,” she said, “we feel that if we can’t get it together now, that we’re never going to be able to, with the funding that is available.”
In response to a question from Commissioner Jim Renninger, Rutkowski said the Federal Aviation Administration will not fund projects outside of the airfield. She added that city leaders are looking to the Florida Department of Transportation for help.
