What the 2022 Legislative Session Means for Marco Island

Last week the 2022 Florida legislature ended and its final act was to pass a balanced budget to fund the State’s priorities for the year ahead. According to Senator Kathleen Passidomo, “Florida’s 2022-2023 balanced budget made key investments in education, environmental infrastructure and public safety, while making smart plans for the future.”

In addition, Passidomo reported that “the budget dedicates $885 million to Everglades restoration and safeguards state taxpayer funds dedicated to clean water resources.”

On the local level, Passidomo is “proud to report that she helped secure $37 million in state funding for Collier, Hendry and parts of Lee County.”

Local Projects Funded for Marco Island (Total $3,619,257):

Marco Island Canal Flushing Project -- $416,745

Marco Island Canal Flushing Improvement Project Funding Secured for San Marco at South Seas Court.

The project will invest $416,745 to install a single 54-inch pipe culvert as well as stormwater inlet structures between two canal basins under the San Marco roadway and through existing drainage easements.

Marco Island Smokehouse Creek Bridge -- $1,702,512

The allocation of $1,702,512 would fund the replacement of a functionally obsolete bridge originally constructed in 1967 that carries a major local arterial roadway over Smokehouse Creek. The structure has exceeded its 50-year design life and has an FDOT structural evaluation of 67, which is only slightly over the minimum tolerable. The bridge is owned and maintained by the city and is also on the main hurricane evacuation route off the island. 

Marco Island SWTP Pump Station -- $1.5 Million

Marco Island SWTP West High Service Pump Station Receives Funding for replacement.

The existing pump building was constructed in 1977 and is below the flood elevation. The pumps provide over 50% of the potable and fire suppression water supply to meet the needs of the community. These pumps are antiquated split-case horizontal pumps that leak and are extremely energy inefficient. 

An investment of $1.5 million to replace them will help prevent flooding and will maintain a reliable drinking and fire suppression water supply for the community.

Examples of Naples Funding Allocation (Total of $11,369,998):

Naples Bay Red Tide/Septic Mitigation Program -- $500,000.

Naples Botanical Garden, Nature-based Solutions -- $650,000.

Naples Community Hospital, Simulation Center -- $1,999,998.

Naples Gulf of Mexico Beach Stormwater Outfall Project -- $5 million.

Naples Senior Center at JFCS, Dementia Respite Program -- $75,000.

Naples Senior Center, Building Construction -- $1.4 million.

Naples Storm Water Lake Restoration -- $1.5 million.

Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, Campus Security --$245,000.