Gadsden County Sheriff's Office gets millions of dollars in public funding

QUINCY, Fla. (WTXL) — The Gadsden County Sheriff's Office has secured millions of dollars in state funding to help support several projects in the county.

“This is just going to improve the lives of all the citizens of Gadsden County,” says Gadsden County Superintendent Elijah Key.

$75.9 million was secured for Gadsden County. Of that money, $32 million will go toward the school district's new elementary and middle school.

“Right now it’s about moving forward and doing the things necessary to build the school,” Key says.

Last year, the school district received more than $70.9 million in state funding, spread over two years, to build the new school. With this year's budget, they received the other half.

“You can't put enough money into making schools stronger and our schools are not safe,” says Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young.

Young says this school will serve a greater purpose.

“It’s hard for teachers to teach if they’re afraid of keeping kids safe in the classroom,” Young says.

When completed, it will replace Gadsden Elementary Magnet, George Munroe, Stewart Street and James A. Shanks Middle School.

“It is absolutely necessary that our children live in modern, state-of-the-art facilities. The environment you are in makes learning easier and makes everything that happens easier.”

Key says the goal is to begin construction on the new school by the end of July.

There are other projects for which the $75 million will be used.

Check out the list below:

Public safety and emergency management

• Gadsden County Emergency Operations Center and Public Safety Complex (HF 1752) (SF 2123): $3,505,251
• Havana Public Safety Improvements (HF 3159) (SF 2294): $1,000,000
• Gretna Fire and Rescue Department Mini Pump (HF 3151) (SF 2295): $235,000
• Gretna Fire Rescue Rapid Response (HF 3149) (SF 2292): $239,000
• Midway Volunteer Fire Department Fire and Hazardous Materials Response Vehicle (HF 2351) (SF 3586): $1,000,000
• Recurring funding to support salary increases for deputy sheriffs and corrections officers: $657,697

Early learning and education

• School readiness services: $4,049,906
• Voluntary pre-kindergarten program: $794,493
• Special Facilities Construction Account – PreK-8 (year 2 of 2): $32,794,471

Infrastructure and transport

• Construction of the bridge: $1,223,298
• Construction inspection consultants: $2,664,870
• Construction grants for road safety: $1,147,220
• Preliminary engineering consultants: $2,100,000
• Resurfacing: $20,227,800
• Small County Outreach Program: $1,867,495

Community and cultural development

• Pat Thomas Park ADA Improvements: $63,600
• Shiloh Park Improvements: $54,000
• Gadsden Arts, Inc. – Bell & Bates Building – Window replacement: $30,000
• Gadsden County – Old Courthouse Renovation, Phase 2: $500,000
• Havana History & Heritage Society, Inc. – Renovation for Museum Expansion and Community Uses: The Planters Exchange – A Registered National Historic Landmark: $500,000
• City of Chattahoochee – Victory Bridge Structural Assessment: $50,000

Workforce development and professional training

• Gadsden Correctional Facility: $100,000
• Gadsden Program for Adults with Disabilities: $100,000
• Preparing Facilities, Programs, Employers and Learners with Nursing Education Incentives (PIPELINE): $501,264
• Fund to encourage student success in vocational and technical education: $2,929
• Public School Workforce Education Program Fund: $449,348