Governor Ron DeSantis signed the state’s $117.6 billion budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, slashing nearly $810 million in line-item vetoes. Lakeland’s targeted list of municipal priorities took a significant hit.
The city requested $4.115 million across four projects. State lawmakers originally approved $3.115 million of that during the legislative session, but the governor’s veto pen cut all but one local project, leaving Lakeland with just $1 million in final state funding.
Here is exactly how Lakeland’s specific requests fared:
| Project | Amount Requested | Final State Funding | Status |
| San Gully Drainage Stabilization | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | Approved |
| Public Safety Radio Replacement | $1,000,000 | $0 | Vetoed |
| Septic-to-Sewer Conversion | $2,000,000 | $0 | Vetoed |
| Se7en Wetlands Water Education Center | $115,000 | $0 | Vetoed |
The Lone Survivor: San Gully Drainage
The San Gully Drainage Stabilization Project was the only city request to escape a veto. This $1 million appropriation secures funding for the next phase of a critical infrastructure push to transition six neighborhoods in west Lakeland from aging septic tanks to the municipal sewer system, protecting local water quality and improving flood resilience.
What Got Cut
- Septic-to-Sewer Conversion ($2 Million): Despite local focus on water infrastructure, this larger chunk of funding for broader city septic-to-sewer transitions was completely nixed.
- Public Safety Radio Replacement ($1 Million): Lawmakers backed this funding to upgrade local emergency communication infrastructure, but DeSantis lined it out.
- Se7en Wetlands Water Education Center ($115,000): This marks another setback for the project; DeSantis previously cut a $400,000 appropriation for the education center.
The Silver Lining for Polk County
While the City of Lakeland’s direct municipal requests were mostly blocked, the broader local area did secure substantial state dollars in other sectors:
- Higher Education: Florida Polytechnic University secured $10 million toward its new Student Achievement Center. Florida Southern College was awarded $5 million to expand its workforce-readiness programs in agriculture, construction, and architecture.
- Sixth District Court of Appeal: The local push for a permanent courthouse in Lakeland took a major leap forward with $13 million approved for the project.
- Area Nonprofits: Organizations like One More Child ($1.645 million for anti-sex trafficking and family support), Tri-County Human Services ($1.5 million for community detox beds), and Peace River Center ($1.35 million for mobile mental health support and clinics) walked away with significant state backing.