Florida budget

The new budget lacks some of the top priorities of legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, coming in $500 million less than the governor's proposed budget, and $3.5 billion less than last year's adjusted total, a goal of conservative lawmakers focused on scaling back state spending amid concerns of a broader economic slowdown.

Legislative leaders said Thursday evening they hope to finish a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year on Friday so it can go before the House and Senate early next week.

House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to pay raises for state employees, with bigger boosts going to law enforcement officers and firefighters, as talks continued Tuesday on a state spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

Florida lawmakers are working out the details on the budget and tax breaks. They've given themselves until mid-June to get it done.

The House and Senate are expected to vote June 16 on the budget and a tax package.

Nearly a month after leaving the Capitol without passing a budget, House and Senate leaders said Friday night they had reached an agreement that will clear the way for lawmakers to begin hammering out details of a spending plan Tuesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis' vetoes cut millions of dollars in funds for more than 600 organizations in Florida.

After vetoes wiped out funding for joint legislative offices, Florida's Senate President and House Speaker quickly assured employees that they were working to ensure workers were protected.

The 16 pages of cuts ranged from as little as $10,500 for a county public works generator to $80 million for group insurance for the state college system.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his budget on Tuesday, December 5 for the new fiscal year, with $15.1 billion dollars going to the state’s public schools.

Dubbed the “Focus on Florida’s Future Budget,” the proposal asks lawmakers for an additional $5 million to continue a controversial program that has transported undocumented immigrants to Massachusetts and California and to set aside $1 million for potential legal expenses related to Florida State University being left out of the four-team college football playoffs.

A legislative panel Friday approved money for more than 230 local projects and programs across the state, after receiving a detailed analysis of Florida’s financial picture from a top economist.