By Anne Spencer

Published: May 6, 2008

Jackson County may be getting more than expected after hearing about the Legislature’s desperate struggle with declining revenue in the amount of $6 billion.

While much was cut from the $66 billion budget passed Friday by the House and Senate, according to Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, small counties were not forgotten.

Lawson announced the results for Jackson County in a press release. They include $13 million for Chipola College, $10 million for the Jackson County Health Department, and money for various municipalities’ wastewater systems and parks.

It wasn’t clear as of Tuesday if the health department’s money would fund the new facility its director, William Long, has long fought for.
The list includes:

• Chipola College, general renovations, roofs and site improvement, $2.17 million;

• Chipola College, remodeling, renovation of student center, $2.4 million;

• Chipola College, replace performing arts building, $4.66 million;

• Chipola College, replace workforce development building, $3.75 million;

• Jackson County Health Department, $10.2 million;

• Grand Ridge, wastewater improvement, $300,000;

• Sneads, wastewater transmission system and wastewater treatment plant, $300,000;

• Graceville’s Mill Creek Park, $135,199;

• Marianna’s MERE, Phase III of the park renovation, $135,199;

• Marianna’s Performing Arts Park, $135,199;

• Alford’s Donald S. Smith Park, Phase III, $135,199;

• Bascom’s Community Park, $135,199;

• Sneads’ Adam Tucker Wilson Park, $135,199;

• Malone’s Johnny Williams Memorial Park, Phase V, $135,199;

• Malone’s Johnny Williams Memorial Park, phase number unlisted, $135,199;

• Sneads’ Adam Tucker Wilson Park, Phase VII, $135,199;

• Jacob’s Jacob City Park, Phase III, $135,199;

• Jacob’s Jacob City Park, Phase IV, $135,199;

• Greenwood’s park, Phase II, $135,199;

• Greenwood’s park, Phase III, $135,199;

• Jackson County, Blue Springs Park, $135,199;

Lawson also championed the effort to put $10 million in the budget for fiscally constrained counties to help offset the cost of implementing Amendment 1, the property tax cut voted upon by voters in the last election.

Also, $25 million was set aside to help small counties like Jackson with their road projects, and $43 million for the Small County Outreach Program, of which Jackson County is a part.

Lawson said his one regret was that no pay raises for state employees came for the second year. The budget is one of the state’s leanest.