Gov. DeSantis touts new money for beach renourishment

REDINGTON SHORES, Fla. - Governor DeSantis was in Redington Shores on Wednesday morning to announce plans to beef up beaches ahead of hurricane season.

The state is planning to spend another $50 million to renourish beaches after major storms hit.

When one town can require a $5 million project after just one storm - like Sunset Beach after Hurricane Idalia - the governor promises to keep this spigot running.

READ: DeSantis bolsters hurricane preparedness program with funding in new bill

"I think that that's a manageable expense for the state," said Gov. DeSantis. "I wish everything just ran itself, right?"

On Redington Shores, the mayor says there are approximately 36 homeowners that must sign temporary easements for the beach to have its dune reconstructed by Pinellas County.

So far, only 14 homeowners have signed on.

For the Federal government to renourish the beach, the town would need 75 homeowners to sign off on perpetual easements. So far, 21 have signed.

Since it's not practical to only renourish part of a beach, projects near where the governor visited will have to wait.

READ: DeSantis announces major investment in environmental protections on Earth Day

"It's really imperative for all of us to collaborate, really understand the premise of the temporary easement, and allow us to educate ourselves to come together to work, to get these dunes rebuilt," said Mayor Lisa Hendrickson.

Sixty percent of a renourishment project in Pinellas County is paid for by the federal government, 20 percent comes from the state and 20 percent comes from county tourist taxes.

The governor says the state's total investment since he took office in 2019 has been $550 million.

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