School Board Chairwoman Paige Brookins said it would be a tragedy if funding was lost for the first phase of the new Chiefland Middle High School.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
The COVID-19 virus and the loss of sales tax revenue resulting from the shutdown of the state economy may force budget cuts that could impact the first phase of construction for the new Chiefland Middle High School this year.
State Sen. Rob Bradley warned County Commissioner John Meeks in an April letter that the COVID-19 virus “has had a stunning impact on jobs and our economy” and the 20/21 budget will be impacted by the virus.
“While I do not subscribe to the “doomsday” scenarios of many pundits, I do recognize that the virus may cause the 20/21 budget to be modestly altered. With that in mind, I wanted to make you aware of the specific projects in the state budget that have a direct impact on your county. This will allow you to advocate for these projects to Governor DeSantis as he makes his veto decisions,” Bradley wrote in the April 9 letter.
Topping the list of potential vetoes was the $12.4 million in Special Facilities Construction funding for the first phase of CMHS construction.
School Board Chairwoman Paige Brookins said she and the Levy County School Board along with various community leaders are urging the governor to preserve funding for the school.
“I talked to the superintendent this morning. I mean we have been really aggressive. I’m nervous as I can be. I want this school so much. I know it’s impacted the economy, but this was going forward and we were approved for funding and we’ve waited 80 years for this school,” Brookins said.
She said she sent a letter to the governor, and the school board sent a letter as a board along with the superintendent, sheriff, Central Florida Electric Cooperative, Nature Coast Economic Development, property appraiser and other community leaders asking the governor not to veto the money. She requested other community leaders reading this story write in support of the new school.
“It’s a terrible time. Everybody’s been impacted, but this is our community hub. We certainly don’t want this cut,” she said. “It would be a tragedy if it was cut. We had been approved for funding. We need the school for the safety of our children.”
The new school would be funded and constructed in three phases with each phase costing $12.4 million. Construction should have started this summer. The COVID-19 virus short-circuited the process.
Bradley and State Rep. Charlie Stone worked to secure state funding for the new Chiefland School. Brookins said she knows they are making efforts to contact the governor in hopes of saving the funding.
The 9 projects listed in Bradley’s letter were in order:
- Special facilities funding for CMHS $12.4 million
- Resurfacing of U.S. 27A from County Road 124 to State Road 24 $8,052,270
- Bronson Fire Station Replacement, Second Phase, $950,000
- Resurface County Road 341 from State Road 345 to U.S. 19, $1,719,250
- Phase 5 FRDAP Grant for James H. Cobb Park, Bronson, $50,000
- Historical Preservation Grant – Cedar Key Historical Society for assessing and communicating natural disaster risk in the Cedar Keys Historic and Archaeological District, $50,000
- School Readiness Services Early Learning Services, $2,140,226
- Inglis Sub-Regional Wastewater System Water Project, $200,000
- Voluntary Kindergarten Program Early Learning Services, $773,989
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting April 21, 2020; Posted May 4, 2020
