DeSantis approves $116.5B Florida budget.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Historic Budget, Emphasizes Environmental Spending

On June 15, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a $116.5 billion state budget into law, marking a significant milestone for the state. What made this budget particularly noteworthy was its emphasis on environmental spending, which DeSantis highlighted by choosing Fort Pierce as the location for the signing ceremony. With the picturesque Indian River Lagoon as his backdrop, DeSantis showcased the budget’s commitment to water restoration in the Everglades and other areas, including a substantial $100 million allocation for the lagoon itself. In total, the budget sets aside $7.3 billion for agriculture, environment, and natural resources, making it the most robust environmental budget in Florida’s history.

During the signing ceremony, DeSantis did not shy away from addressing the $510.9 million in line-item vetoes he made. However, these vetoes only accounted for less than 1 percent of the budget, a significant decrease compared to the $3.1 billion he vetoed in the previous year’s budget. According to a statement from his office, these vetoes were necessary to ensure Florida’s fiscal stability in the face of challenging economic conditions caused by misguided federal policies.

DeSantis also took the opportunity to highlight several other achievements of the budget. The state is investing a record $26.8 billion in education, with a per-student expenditure of $8,648, an increase of $405 from the previous year. Additionally, the budget provides $2.7 billion in tax savings for Floridians, includes substantial raises for public safety employees and teachers, and allocates significant funds for workforce education and affordable housing.

Funding Cancer Research and Care

One notable aspect of the budget is its allocation of $191 million for cancer research and care. This cause holds personal significance for DeSantis, as his wife Casey DeSantis is a cancer survivor and has been a strong advocate for cancer-related initiatives. The budget also prioritizes infrastructure development, with $4 billion dedicated to the Moving Florida Forward Initiative, which aims to expedite major highway projects and complete them within four years instead of the usual 20.

Despite Florida’s lack of a state income tax, the state’s healthy surpluses have allowed it to address major issues and provide substantial tax rebates to its residents. These rebates aim to alleviate the impact of inflation on household budgets. The budget introduces permanent sales tax exemptions for child and baby-related purchases, implements back-to-school tax holidays, and offers “Freedom Summer” tax exemptions for recreational items and events during the summer months. Additionally, the budget includes a 50 percent rebate on toll road fees, potentially saving drivers and commuters over $1,000 annually.

Protecting Rural and Family Lands

While the budget includes several commendable initiatives, it also includes some line-item vetoes. One of the largest vetoes was $100 million for the rural and family lands protection program. According to a spokesperson for the governor’s office, this program, managed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, aims to incentivize farmers to preserve their lands for agriculture. The state purchases agriculture easements on these lands, allowing farmers to retain ownership while ensuring their continued agricultural use. Last year’s budget allocated $300 million to this program, and a significant portion of those funds still need to be utilized, making the new $100 million allocation unnecessary.

However, the budget does allocate $100 million for the Florida Forever project, which focuses on acquiring land and creating easements for various purposes, including agriculture, parks, recreation, and public use. The Department of Environmental Protection, which received $976 million for this purpose, administers the Florida Forever program. Additionally, the budget supports the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a network of undeveloped land that facilitates animal migration by connecting existing tracts such as state or federal parks and forests.

Other significant line-item vetoes include construction projects at various universities, such as Florida State University and the University of South Florida. According to a spokesperson, these vetoes were made because the schools sought funding through channels that did not align with the governor’s preferred approach.

Updates on COVID-19 Grand Jury and Presidential Campaign

While Governor DeSantis has been actively engaged in signing bills and addressing state matters, he has also been actively campaigning for the presidency. His campaign has taken him to several states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, with Nevada being his next destination. During a press conference, DeSantis provided an update on the grand jury he established to investigate governmental actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdown measures, treatment protocols, and vaccine distribution.