Hernando Big Winner In State Budget

BROOKSVILLE - The state Legislature was kind to Hernando County this year, and now Gov. Charlie Crist has reaffirmed that kindness.

Despite the tightest budget year in recent memory, more than $42 million for local projects has escaped Crist's veto pen.

They range from $88,000 for vocational education for adults with disabilities to nearly $20 million to purchase right of way to widen State Road 50 from U.S. 19 to west of Mariner Drive.

Among them is a $14 million allocation to expand and renovate the Hernando County Health Department.

"In a budget like this, to be able to survive the governor's veto pen, I think it just shows how important these projects are," said Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill.

But Schenck said he felt the biggest triumph is $1.14 million for a new training facility at ARC of the Nature Coast's facility on Neff Lake Road in Brooksville.

ARC provides housing, training and other services to developmentally disabled adults at homes and facilities throughout Hernando County, and the new building will double as a hurricane shelter for those clients when storms threaten.

It's a worthy project, Schenck said, but officials worried the governor's office might have decided it could wait.

"The people at ARC have done so much for so little for so long, so it's a big victory," Schenck said.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, agreed.

"We're pleased and we thank the governor for realizing the importance of these two projects," Fasano said, who toured ARC's campus and saw firsthand that "they are in desperate need."

"This will provide a facility they can grow in," Fasano said.

ARC director Mark Berry was in a celebratory mood Wednesday, but said he already is thinking about how to get the building completed by the end of next year.

"There's a lot to do," he said.

Here's a rundown of the other projects in the budget:

- $2 million to purchase right of way to widen Elgin Boulevard/Powell Road from Mariner Boulevard to Barclay Avenue.

- $1.1 million to widen U.S. 98 (State Road 50A/State Road 700) from Cleveland Avenue to Mildred Avenue.

- $1 million to purchase right of way to widen County Line Road from Mariner Boulevard to the Suncoast Parkway.

- $534,000 for workforce education programs.

- $190,000 for improvements to the City of Brooksville's water infrastructure.