Leon delegation aiming high in budget requests as session begins

Florida lawmakers from the Big Bend are requesting $438,685,000 in the state budget, including more than $190 million for school and university projects and over $63 million for water and wastewater work.

The Leon-area legislative delegation is seeking $438,685,000 in state budget requests as the Florida legislative session begins. The group includes Reps. Jason Shoaf, Allison Tant and Gallop Franklin, and Sen. Corey Simon. Their requests prioritize school construction, water and wastewater work, and public safety projects across the Big Bend and surrounding counties. The 2026 legislative session runs Jan. 13 to March 13. Requested allocations: - The delegation is seeking $438,685,000 in state budget requests for local projects across the Big Bend. - More than $190 million is tied to education, including new elementary-middle schools in Gadsden and Lafayette counties, a new high school for Wakulla County, $8 million for a Tallahassee State College expansion, $13 million for a chemical research lab at Florida A&M University, and $54 million for the Middleton Center at Florida State University. - Over $63 million is requested for water projects and wastewater work, including $17 million to connect homes in Midway, Quincy and Woodville in the Wakulla Springs Basin to centralized sewer systems and an additional $17 million to repair sewer lines and upgrade wastewater facilities in Madison, St. Marks and Tallahassee. - The delegation also seeks funding for public safety, including seven new fire stations in several counties, requests for new fire trucks in 11 communities, and a $582,000 request to update the Miccosukee Volunteer Fire Department's station and equipment. Summary: The funding requests aim to direct state resources to education construction, water-quality and wastewater improvements, and rural fire and emergency capacity in the Big Bend. Delegation members acknowledge they are unlikely to secure every request but will advocate for these priorities during the 60-day legislative session from Jan. 13 to March 13. The final budget decisions will be determined through the Legislature's appropriations process.