Florida budget

Among the approved spending items was $15 million to build a facility to house the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation program at USF St. Petersburg.

Lawmakers will meet on Friday to approve disbursing $175 million in funds. Projects across the greater Tampa Bay region under consideration are $15 million for an Florida Flood Hub facility at the USF St. Petersburg campus.

Nearly 750 items will be under consideration to receive part of the $80 million available through the Local Support Grants fund.

Some face legal challenges, such as a bill that would prevent abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

University of South Florida Board chairman Will Weatherford assured officials that DeSantis would come around next year.

The funds were expected to be used toward building a spring training home for the Rays.

Under the Legislature’s plan, districts in Hillsborough, Sarasota, and 10 other counties would have been ineligible for the money because they had mask requirements.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a record $109.9 billion budget for the fiscal year that will begin July 1, but vetoes included funds for a Pasco sports complex and an H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center facility in Pasco County.

During an appearance at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the governor expressed support for budget items aimed at helping manatees.

Among the highest-profile items was $35 million for what was described as a “Sports Training and Youth Tournament Complex” in Pasco County.

Included in the budget is $35 million for a "Sports Training and Youth Tournament Complex" that potentially could be used to bring the Rays to Pasco County for spring training.

DeSantis’ vetoes have increased since he first took office in 2019, when he cut $131 million from a budget totaling $90.98 billion.