Citrus has its share of budget 'turkeys'

Lawmakers serving the county are seeking millions of state dollars for local projects.

By JIM ROSS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2002

INVERNESS -- Every year, legislators submit "wish lists" of local projects they would like to fund. And every year, some of those projects are dubbed "turkeys" because they are pet projects that lawmakers propose to appease a special constituent.

The three lawmakers who represent Citrus County have submitted many "community budget issue requests," as they are formally known in Tallahassee.

Citrus residents probably would bristle if anyone suggested there were any birds hiding on their side of the ledger.

State Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, submitted a long list that includes requests for a combined $7.3-million that would go toward improving water and/or sewer service in Chassahowitzka, Homosassa, the Indian Waters section of Crystal River and other parts of the county.

Citrus has had good fortune in the past seeking money for such projects, especially the Homosassa and Chassahowitzka.

Argenziano's list of Citrus-related projects also includes:

Boys & Girls Club of Citrus County, $200,000.

Citrus County Fairgrounds Improvement Project, $800,000.

Historic Hernando School Project, $350,000.

Lake Tsala Apopka Restoration Council, $1-million.

Lake Tsala Gardens Water System Project, $366,050.

Old Citrus County Courthouse, $150,000.

Recycling, Tire and Litter Grants, $115,000.

Sandpiper Drive Water Main Extension, $706,087.

Argenziano's district includes part of northwest Hernando County and a sliver of Marion County. Most of her budget requests directly affect Citrus.

The same is not true for the county's Senate members: Richard Mitchell, D-Jasper, whose district includes west Citrus; and Anna Cowin, R-Leesburg, who represents east Citrus.

Mitchell and Cowin represent larger districts, and their lists are longer than Argenziano's. But they also are sponsoring, or cosponsoring, budget requests for the bigger Citrus projects including, but not limited to, the water and sewer projects and the renovations of the Old Courthouse and the fairgrounds.

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