State Rep. Cord Byrd applauds passage of FL balanced budget

Rep. Cord Byrd

Florida House of Representatives

Cord Byrd

Representative, District 11

March 28, 2018 7:00 a.m.

 Representative Cord Byrd and Senator Aaron Bean secure funding for Nassau County Priorities 

Yulee, FL- The 2018 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature adjourned Sunday March 11^th, completing our work on an expansive policy agenda and fulfilling our constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget that funds Florida’s greatest needs while putting money in reserves. On March 16^th, Governor Scott officially signed the “Securing Florida’s Future Budget.”

Representative Byrd, together with Senator Aaron Bean, secured funding for the following projects in Nassau County:

• Northeast Florida Fairgrounds: The Northeast Florida Fairgrounds in Callahan is a key element to Natural Disaster Preparedness, as was proven during the past two Hurricanes. Used as a staging area for utility and emergency personnel, as well as a shelter for farm animals, our local fairgrounds is in dire need of facility repairs. This year’s budget allocated $550,000 for facility improvements.

• William Burgess Blvd Extension: The William Burgess Blvd. Extension project (HB 3999) appropriates $1,000,000 for the beginning phases of extending William Burgess Blvd. to provide an alternative route to A1A (SR 200) and to provide alternative access for Yulee Middle & High Schools. By providing this alternative roadway, a new corridor will be in place to assist with emergency evacuation and to provide alternative routes for traffic and alleviate congestion on A1A.

• Fernandina Beach Storm Water Shoreline Stabilization: The City of Fernandina Beach is set to receive $450,000 to assist in completing the Front Street Storm Water Drainage Project (HB 3995) by stabilizing and heightening the Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina Seawall, which sustained damage from the recent hurricanes causing flooding in the downtown area.

• Nassau County Council on Aging: The Nassau County Council on Aging (HB 4141) provides a nutrition support program in the amount of $400,000 to prepare hot, nutritious meals for seniors, including the frail and homebound and offers a meal program for low income veterans. In addition, the new center is set to serve as a disaster response center to feed the entire community when electricity is lost in the wake of a natural disaster.

• Port of Fernandina: The Port of Fernandina Multi-purpose Warehouse and Crane project (HB 4015) appropriates $2,000,000 to the addition of a new multi-purpose dock crane and a new 50,000 square feet warehouse. The new dock crane ties the entire terminal infrastructure together allowing for faster loading/unloading and vessel turns, and more efficient utilization of the facility.

Other projects with a regional impact include:

• Five Star Veterans Center: The Five Star Veterans Center Project (HB 2213) is appropriated $150,000 to help homeless or displaced veterans who are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress or Traumatic Brain Injury and other behavior health issues. The goal of the project is to achieve greater self-determination, improved residential stability, and increased income and/or job skills for veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

• Delores Barr Weaver Foundation: The Continuity of Care: Girl Matters Project (HB 4139) was appropriated $375,000 to provide intensive, wrap around services for girls and their families who are involved in the Judicial System. Many of these women and girls are themselves victims of abuse, including human trafficking. This program saves the State of Florida significant funding by preventing girls who do not pose a public safety risk from being committed to costly residential programs. For every 30 girls prevented from being committed to a residential commitment facility, the State avoids costs totaling $1.3M.

• Safe Harbor Boys Home: The Safe Harbor Boys Home is a Christian, maritime-based boarding school based on the Northside of Jacksonville. It utilizes maritime principles, discipline and seamanship as a therapeutic model for helping turn around at-risk teenage boys. Thus, keeping them from falling into the Juvenile Justice system.

In addition to the budget, we also passed the Florida First Tax Package which provides tax relief for all Floridians. Some highlights of this package include the 3-day back to school sales tax holiday, a hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday, and small business sales tax relief.

Representative Byrd looks forward to discussing these and many policy issues in his legislative updates around the district. Any organization or community group wishing to schedule him to speak, is encouraged to email cord.byrd@myfloridahouse.gov or call 904.548.9333.

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