Discussion of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget largely dominated the past committee week, as budget panels in the House and Senate met to review the new Governor’s recommendations.
DeSantis had recently detailed the largest spending plan ever proposed by a Florida Governor. He described the $91.3 billion budget, which makes significant changes to funding for education and the environment, as “aspirational but attainable.”
The “Bold Vision for a Brighter Future” plan will serve as a template for lawmakers to craft their own budget during the upcoming Legislative Session. As the saying goes: The Governor proposes and the Legislature disposes.
Although the Governor’s budget doesn’t come with any givens for the 60-day Session, it does provide an early insight into his office’s priorities.
For example, with respect to K-12 education, DeSantis wants an increase in per-student funding by $7,653, or $224 more than last year. The base student allocation grows by $50 per student. In total, DeSantis is recommending $21.7 billion for the Florida Education Finance Program, or FEFP.
DeSantis also directs an eye-popping $625 million Everglades restoration and resource protection. This will be a recurring recommendation from the Governor. His staff noted that an investment of this much each year would mean $2.5 billion in environmental funding through his first four years in office.