Key Biscayne could be on target to receive a modest slice of the Florida Legislature’s $115.1 billion budget for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year.

District 113 State Rep. Vicki Lopez made the announcements this week of the “hard-working taxpayers dollars” approved in her Miami-area territory, including $1.1 million for Key Biscayne, $14.318 million for Miami-Dade County, $3.926 million for the City of Miami and an overall $24.671 million for projects in the entire District 113 area.

“We are excited and appreciative that both of our appropriations requests have made it through the Legislature,” Key Biscayne Village Manager Steve Williamson said. “I want to thank Senator (Alexis) Calatayud and Representative Lopez for their hard work during this year’s session. Both fully recognize the importance of Key Biscayne’s existential need to address our flooding problems with a strategically located outfall which increases discharge capacity and improves water quality.

“They also understand our need, as a barrier island vulnerable to natural disasters, to have the latest radio technology to improve our internal communications as well as better coordinate with state emergency management agencies.”

Upon approval by Gov. Ron DeSantis within these next two weeks (he also has 48 bills on his desk to sign or veto), the spending plan would take effect July 1.

The $115.1 billion state budget for the coming year is actually $3 billion less than the current spending plan.

Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog for more than 40 years, has released its annual budget “turkey watch report,” urging the governor to erase at least 242 provisions totaling $416.5 million, but none could be seen pinpointing Key Biscayne’s requests.

In all, some 1,600 projects were labeled as “turkeys,” accounting for some $2 billion.

Last year, Gov. DeSantis vetoed nearly $950 million of the line items.

“We are watching closely as the budget is being reviewed by the Governor’s office,” Williamson said. “We believe they, too, understand the importance for the Village to prepare for long-term environmental threats, as well as for the weather-related threats we face over the course of each annual hurricane season.”

Key aspects of the passed budget:

• Significant Tax Cuts: The budget includes a $1.3 billion package of tax cuts, notably eliminating the commercial-lease tax, which had been a priority for business lobbyists.

• Increased Per-Student School Funding: The spending plan allocates $9,130.41 per student, a 1.59% increase.

• Pay Raises for State Employees: Most state employees will receive a 2% pay raise, with state law enforcement officers and firefighters receiving higher increases (8% to 13%).

• Everglades Restoration & Water Projects: The budget includes $691.5 million for Everglades restoration and $675.2 million for water improvement projects.

• Flood and Sea-Level Grants: $170 million has been allocated for flood and sea-level grants.

Relieved Israelis returned to work and school on Wednesday after the military lifted restrictions following a ceasefire with Iran, while some voiced lingering apprehension about the future.

People sunbathed and played football on Tel Aviv’s beaches, streets and markets came back to life, and schools reopened on Wednesday following the deal to end the 12-day war.

“Finally, we can start to live again,” said Yosi, 40, a yoga teacher and mother of two, sitting at a cafe in Tel Aviv.

The western coastal city was among the sites struck repeatedly during Iran and Israel’s deadly exchanges of missiles.

“I’m exhausted, but I was so relieved when I saw my two kids going to school this morning, meeting their friends, after 12 days at home,” she added.

Traders unpacked their spices, clothes and souvenirs at Carmel market in the centre of the economic and tech capital, which is also renowned for its nightlife.

“We hope now the clients will be back. We have suffered too much,” a jewellery trader, Ori, told AFP.

Crowds of passengers moved through the Ben Gurion airport outside the city as commercial flights resumed.

Families holding miniature Israeli flags smiled as they stepped off planes on their return. Some kneeled and kissed the tarmac.

– Fears for future –

For some, the relief was tinged with fear about further unrest.

“I’m not religious but I pray that I won’t hear any more sirens, that I won’t have to run and hide in a shelter,” said Yafit Sofi, 33, between sips of beer in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening.

“We want to party, we want to live, to regain our carefree attitude… But how long will this last? What will the next war be?” the young woman said.

“So many people want to kill us, so many countries want to destroy Israel. And each time, it’s worse.”

The ceasefire with Iran raised hopes for some that Israel would also halt the fighting in the nearby Palestinian territory Gaza where it has been battling to crush the Islamist militant group Hamas for more than 20 months.

The area is suffering from famine-like conditions after Israel blocked all supplies from early March to the end of May and continues to impose restrictions, according to rights groups.

The Israeli government declined to comment on any new ceasefire talks beyond saying that efforts to return Israeli hostages in Gaza were ongoing “on the battlefield and via negotiations”.

In Tel Aviv, Yossi Bin, 45, an engineer, said now families in the city could “sleep peacefully”.

“I hope it stays that way,” he added.

“I truly hope the ceasefire will hold, and that (the government) take advantage… to take some action to bring calm to other fronts as well.”

– Gaza suffering –

Israel attacked Iran in a bid to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, an ambition Tehran has consistently denied having.

The Israeli action killed at least 610 civilians and wounded more than 4,700, according to the Iranian health ministry.

Iranian missile strikes on Israel killed 28 people, according to official figures and rescuers.

“At first we felt like it was a game, it all seemed unreal. We were at the beach and suddenly we were running into shelters to hide,” said Dorothea Schupelius, 29, while strolling in Tel Aviv.

“And then no, it wasn’t a game: real people died,” she said. “Everyone suffered.”

Fashion designer Noa Karlovsky had a pile of wedding dresses sewn for her clients in her loft in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv.

“Many of our men are in Gaza, and with the war in Iran, even more weddings have been cancelled,” she said sadly.

“We can’t plan anything, we don’t really control our lives anymore. Our leaders are at war, but we’re just pawns. I’d like to start a family, but I wonder if it’s a good idea,” added the 30-year-old.

cl-bur-rlp/dv