Okaloosa County Approved for Nearly $9M in State Funding

Four of the legislative priorities submitted by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners to the Florida Legislature were approved in the State’s $115 billion budget that was signed Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, for fiscal year-2023-24. Okaloosa County’s projects total $8,975,000 in state funding.

Projects include:
• $350,000 for continued support of the Okaloosa-Walton Mental Health and Substance Abuse Pre-Trial Diversion Program
• $1.25 million for a special needs ball field and park
• $7 million for the Shoal River Ranch Water Reclamation Facility
• $375,000 for the construction of a 1.5-mile west U.S. Highway 98 collector road

“All of Okaloosa County must appreciate the incredible gesture of support that the state and Governor Ron DeSantis have given and continue to give to our residents,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “These appropriations would never have received funding without the tireless work of Representatives Patt Maney and Joel Rudman and Senators Doug Broxson and Jay Trumbull, who make up our Legislative Delegation and who always fight hard for Northwest Florida’s needs.”

The state funding will help Okaloosa County meet the growing infrastructure and community needs and leverage existing funding to make necessary improvements.