This Is How Gov. DeSantis Plans To Spend Florida's Stimulus Check

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay residents aren't the only ones eagerly planning ways to spend their coronavirus relief stimulus checks.

In addition to $1,400 in direct stimulus checks to residents, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan adopted by Congress March 10 will inject $17.6 billion into Florida to supplement state, county and city coffers.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state should have received at least $2 million more in stimulus funds. But because of Florida's low unemployment rate (4.8 percent as of Tuesday), those funds went to New York and California where unemployment rates hover around 9 percent.

"We were treated very poorly in the stimulus," DeSantis said during a news conference. "We’re going to end up getting about $2 billion less than if they had just done a per capita distribution."

Nevertheless, DeSantis was quick to send the Florida Legislature a rundown on how he'd like the statewide funds to be spent.

The governor’s recommendations total $4.1 billion with $1.4 billion to be spent this fiscal year.

Topping the list is an overhaul of the state's problem-plagued unemployment system.

An independent study published in February recommended that the state scrap the current system and replace it with a new, integrated cloud-based system.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's Connect online system was put in place by then-Gov. Rick Scott in October 2013 at a cost of $77.9 million. The inadequacy of the system became apparent in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic was declared, forcing businesses to close.

Thousands of newly unemployed Floridians tried to apply for unemployment benefits but found it impossible to navigate the glitched online system.

By April, only 6 percent of unemployed Floridians had qualified for unemployment checks. In August, 1.45 million Floridians were still awaiting their payments.

"It (the Connect system) should have been done better for that price tag to produce better results," DeSantis said, asserting that the system was designed to discourage unemployed workers from applying for assistance.

He's asking for $73.2 million to modernize the unemployment system and another $56.6 million to operate the new system.

Also topping DeSantis' list of priorities is $208.4 million to provide first reponders including law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians a one-time $1,000 direct payment.

To help bolster the state's coronavirus recovery efforts, DeSantis is recommending more than $500 million be spent on economic development and recovery initiatives to boost tourism, create high-paying jobs in the state and support critical job sectors including $258.2 million in relief for Florida's seaports, $150 million for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, $50 million for Visit Florida and $50 million for the Economic Development Transportation Fund.

Other proposals for spending the relief funds include:

• $41.7 million to enhance the Florida National Guard
• $1 billion for the creation of an Emergency Management Response Fund
• $72 million to modernize the state's behavioral health system
• $185 million for workforce training and research initiatives to prepare Floridians to fill high-demand, high-wage jobs
• $10 million for the Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program to support research to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease
• $938.4 million to get the transportation work program back on track

Click here to see the spreadsheet of all the governor's recommendations.

The remaining $10 billion will be split among Florida's counties and cities.

• $285.48 million to Hillsborough County
• $189.09 million to Pinellas County
• $107.43 million to Pasco County
• $140.57 million to Polk County
• $84.12 million to Sarasota County
• $78.21 million to Manatee

Eight Tampa Bay cities will also receive funds:

• $80.29 million to Tampa
• $46.66 million to St. Petersburg
• $20.87 million to Clearwater
• $13.91 million to Largo
• $9.98 million to Pinellas Park
• $24.38 million to Lakeland
• $10.92 million to Sarasota
• $10.90 million to Bradenton

In addition, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said House members from Florida fought to ensure that Florida's cash-strapped schools will receive the funding they need for additional online teachers, teacher salaries, ventilation upgrades and protective equipment.

The estimated amounts going to the school districts are:

• $500 million to Hillsborough County Schools
• $178 million to Pinellas County Schools
• $131 million to Pasco County Schools
• $86 million to Manatee County Schools
• $69 million to Sarasota County Schools
• $293 million to Polk County Schools

See related stories:

• Independent Study Recommends Florida Replace Unemployment System
• How To Check On Your COVID-19 Crisis Stimulus Payment In FL
• Stimulus Money, Tax Credits Will Lift Kids Out Of Poverty: Castor
• $1K Extra Stimulus Payment Sought For First Responders: DeSantis