Florida House District 2 Representative Alex Andrade led last night’s Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation hearing in Santa Rosa County.
District 1 State Senator Don Gaetz, during last night’s Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation hearing in Santa Rosa County, lowered expectations for financial appropriations during the upcoming legislative session, sharing news of challenges in the state’s financial forecast, predicting a roughly $6.7 billion shortfall by fiscal year 2027-2028.
Dozens showed up for the event at St. Sylvester Church on Gulf Breeze Parkway, and local municipalities and citizens made requests of the delegation, which included Gaetz and House District 2 Representative Alex Andrade. The House District 3 seat is currently vacant.
Santa Rosa County District 3 Representative Rhett Rowell presented the county commission’s request for the legislature to approve the Florida Department of Transportation’s 5-year plan, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, and military base protection initiatives.
Rowell represents North Santa Rosa County, the county’s largest district geographically. Photos by Romi White.
Other requests included Milton Mayor Heather Lindsay requesting funding for the City’s downtown marina project and dredging of Locklin Lake, and Holley-Navarre Water System CEO/Fairpoint Regional Utilies Executive Director Jeff Crigler asking for support for a Regional Reuse Beneficial Strategic Plan, in partnership with the County and City of Gulf Breeze, which aims to eliminate the discharge of treated wastewater into Santa Rosa Sound.
After hearing requests, Gaetz, who was named chairman of the Santa Rosa delegation, referenced a recent three-year forecast presented to the legislators by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research Coordinator Amy Baker.
Gaetz explained that high property insurance rates and housings costs have slowed in-migration and, coupled with increased costs for Medicaid and the Florida Education Financial Program, which funds state K-12 schools, contribute to forecasts for a $6.7 billion deficit in a couple of years, leaving legislators with two options: raise taxes or cut spending.
Nathan Boyles, co-owner of Adams Sanitation and a candidate for the District 3 seat, attended the event and said Gaetz made “very good points about the realities of the state’s macroeconomics” in the wake of two major hurricanes and the loss of ~$2 billion in one-time, pandemic-related federal funded.
“Less money is less money,” Gaetz said, encouraging the audience to “work with us” and “tighten belts.” He noted that a loss of state funding would be no reflection on the good work of agencies, noting the “days of milk and honey are over for a while.”
“While we’re prepared to maximize the amount of funds we can draw to our area, Sen. Gaetz is absolutely correct. Northwest Floridians should expect the amount of discretionary funding the state will provide this year to be significantly lower than the last few years,” Andrade told South Santa Rosa News.
The 60-day 2025 legislative session begins March 4.
