Budget conference: Ed Hooper is in line to get his full ask for Ruth Eckerd Hall

Ask and you shall receive might be Sen. Ed Hooper’s motto this week.

The latest House budget offer includes $820,000 to repair water damage, undertake certain hurricane hardening, replace or install various flood prevention fixtures and fund other improvements to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, including repairing water damage.

That’s the exact amount Hooper requested. Both the House and the Senate included the line item in their budgets.

Ruth Eckerd Hall’s facilities are owned by the city of Clearwater, but the organization has a long-term lease with the city and is responsible for maintenance and asset replacements to the property.

– Janelle Irwin, Florida Politics