DeSantis veto cuts funding for Coral Springs water system cybersecurity project
Coral Springs, Florida – A planned cybersecurity upgrade for Coral Springs’ water treatment system has been left without state funding after Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed an $85,000 allocation from the state budget, raising concerns about aging infrastructure that helps protect drinking water for more than 135,000 residents.
The decision came as part of a broader budget move by the governor, who signed a $117.6 billion state spending plan on Monday while cutting roughly $1.6 billion in legislative appropriations. Among the projects removed from the final budget was funding designated for a SCADA radio telemetry system upgrade at the city’s water treatment facility.
The SCADA system is responsible for communication between the main treatment plant and remote monitoring stations. According to state Senate documents, the current system has reached the end of its operational life and does not include encryption protections, making it potentially vulnerable to cyber threats that could disrupt water operations.
The proposed upgrade would have replaced outdated equipment with an encrypted system designed to secure communication between water facilities, treatment controls, and monitoring networks. It also included staff training components intended to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and response capabilities.
State Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat, sponsored the funding request at the state level. The city had already committed $85,000 in matching local funds, bringing the total project value to $170,000. Without the state contribution, the future of the upgrade is now uncertain, and officials may need to seek alternative funding or reapply in a future legislative session.
City leaders had described the project as an important step in modernizing essential infrastructure. The system supports day-to-day water operations and helps ensure stability in a facility that serves a large population base in Broward County. With increasing attention on cybersecurity risks to public utilities nationwide, the upgrade was seen as a preventive measure rather than a reactive fix.
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For now, it is unclear whether Coral Springs will move forward with the project on its own timeline or delay improvements until additional funding becomes available. The veto effectively pauses progress on replacing technology that officials say is no longer equipped to meet current security standards.
While the cybersecurity project did not make it into the final budget, other Coral Springs initiatives were approved. One of the largest was a $750,000 allocation for a boardwalk project at Kiwanis Park, located within a 6.15-acre wet hammock area designated as a nature preserve.
That project, also sponsored by Sen. Polsky, will be matched by the city dollar-for-dollar, resulting in a total investment of $1.5 million. The planned boardwalk will wind through existing Florida vegetation, with designers aiming to preserve the natural environment while allowing residents and students greater access to the area.
Construction on the park project has been underway and is expected to be completed by February 2027. City officials say the space will serve both recreational and educational purposes, especially for a nearby middle school that plans to use the site for outdoor learning and environmental programs.
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The contrast between the two projects highlights the competing priorities in state budgeting decisions — balancing infrastructure security needs with environmental and community development initiatives.
For Coral Springs, however, the immediate concern remains the water treatment system. Without encryption upgrades, the city continues to rely on aging technology that officials have already identified as past its intended service life.
As state and local leaders reassess funding options, residents are left waiting to see whether critical cybersecurity improvements to the city’s water system will move forward in the near future or remain on hold indefinitely.
