Citing the pressure placed on Hernando County’s fuel reserves by Hurricane Irma, Rep. Blaise Igoglia (R-Spring Hill) has asked the State for more than $900,000 in appropriations to create a central fueling facility in Hernando County for critical services such as fire rescue, ambulances, and others.
Filed in January by HB 2843 requests that $966,593 from the General Revenue Fund be appropriated to the Division of Emergency Management to fund the Hernando County Central Fueling Facility for Critical Services.
“The County does not have adequate fueling reserves for its first responder critical services (Fire Rescue, Ambulances, Public Works, and Utilities) to respond to natural disasters and hurricanes, or any event that may disrupt the transport and delivery of fuel,” Igoglia said in his appropriations request. “During Hurricane Irma, the (Hernando) County became close to running out of fuel and had to make tough decisions on what to provide fuel for. This project will construct a new fueling facility with reserves to respond to disasters.”
If passed, the appropriations bill would become effective on July 1.
HB 2843 has been referred to the House’s Appropriations Committee as well as the Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee for review.