- March 28, 2024
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Gulf Coast communities' projects didn't escape the eye of Florida TaxWatch when the government watchdog group issued its annual “Turkey List” this month.
But the region didn't fare too badly either, though one “Turkey” stood out a bit more than others.
The 41 projects on the list that TaxWatch targets for line item vetoes by Gov. Charlie Crist add up to $60.6 million out of a $70.4 billion budget approved by the Legislature.
Only four of those — totaling $3,050,000, or just 5% — come from the Gulf Coast, though three of them involve Hillsborough County with two each costing $1 million.
TaxWatch looks for projects bypassing the normal budget appropriations approval process.
Such is the case for the $300,000 appropriation from a trust fund for the Hillsborough Achievement and Resource Center. TaxWatch notes that the project was not requested by a state agency or the governor, and that by also specifying a provider the project bypasses the competitive selection process.
A $750,000 regional hurricane shelter and community health center in Pasco County also lacked an agency request or governor's recommendation. And a $1 million pilot job program for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties received criticism for not being requested by an agency or the governor, and being added in as part of the legislative conference budget discussions held near the end of the session.
One project in particular likely stood out to the TaxWatch watchdogs: the $1 million Turkey Creek Road improvements in Hillsborough. It's not in the current state work program, and it also bypassed the selection process of the governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.