Florida lawmakers finalize state budget
Education gets $35.1 billion and public safety workers receive pay boosts in a budget lawmakers say stays within state means.
- Florida legislators finalized a roughly $114.5 billion state budget on Tuesday, nearly $3 billion below Governor Ron DeSantis's proposal, triggering a constitutionally required 72-hour cooling-off period before the Friday final vote.
- Republican leaders pitched the proposal as restrained while investing in record K-12 funding, teacher pay increases for veteran educators, and major transportation spending, reducing expenditures by about $500 million compared to the current year.
- Education receives $35.1 billion with $30 billion for public schools, an increase of $736 million from last year; over $1.55 billion funds teacher raises while the budget provides 4% pay increases for state law enforcement, firefighters, and park rangers.
- The budget heads to Governor DeSantis with line-item veto power, as House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, criticized it as the second consecutive year Republicans failed to deliver timely affordability relief for struggling Floridians.
- Nearly 500,000 students will receive family empowerment scholarships as Florida maintains national leadership in parental choice, with flexible per-student funding allowing local school districts to serve 3.2 million students statewide while $79 million cushions declining enrollment revenue.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Florida lawmakers finalize $114.5B budget, setting up Friday vote
Florida lawmakers have finalized a roughly $114.5 billion state budget, setting up a final vote Friday after negotiations again stretched beyond the regular legislative session.The spending plan is about $500 million smaller than the current year's $115.1 billion budget. Republican leaders are pitching it as a restrained, balanced proposal that keeps state spending in check while investing in schools, health care, public safety, infrastructure, …
Florida Legislature Advances $114.5B Budget Proposal
Florida lawmakers on Tuesday filed the state’s general appropriations act for the 2026-27 fiscal year, advancing a $114.5 billion spending plan that legislative leaders said reduces overall spending while increasing funding for schools, health care, and transportation. The filing commences the constitutionally required 72-hour cooling-off period before lawmakers can take a final vote on the budget. The vote is scheduled for Friday, May 29. If ap…
State budget offers millions for Polk colleges, cities, road projects
Florida's legislative sessions have prioritized substantial financial backing for Polk County's rapid growth. Following the recently negotiated state budget agreement, millions of dollars are slated to head into local infrastructure, higher education, and community services. Here is a breakdown of where those state funds are flowing to support local colleges,…
What’s in Florida’s new $115 billion budget?
After Memorial Day weekend negotiations, Florida lawmakers finalized a $115 billion state budget that includes tax breaks for hurricane-resistant windows and gun accessories, major Everglades funding, raises for select state workers and continued support for HIV drug programs.
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