The Florida Legislature didn’t get around to passing a budget during their regular session earlier this year. They are reconvening in Tallahassee May 12–29. A budget must be passed before July 1st.
The State House and Senate proposed budgets aren’t that far apart, only about $1.5 Billion. Imagine all the good that you could do with $1.5 Billion. What good will our elected officials do? Hopefully fund Florida Forever to save precious and vulnerable Florida nature. Instead it looks like they’re going with the scaled down version that buys easements, at best (The Florida Wildlife Federation has all the info here and an easy way to contact legislators).
Budget conference committees start meeting on May 12th for a few days to hammer out agreements. Then, Florida House and Senate leaders meet to resolve whatever didn’t get settled in the budget conference committees. The rest of the lawmakers then head back to Tallahassee after Memorial Day to vote. Special sessions cost taxpayers about $50,000 a day, meaning the redistricting special session cost about $200,000, and the upcoming budget one will cost much more.
The House and Senate are still far apart on a few areas, with the Senate budget more aligned with Governor DeSantis’s proposal. The Senate funds affordable housing, college/university construction, the Florida State Guard, aforementioned Florida Forever, teachers’ pay, and other areas at a higher rate than the proposed House budget.
But wait, there’s more.
Additionally, the governor is planning on calling a third special session, in June, for lawmakers to overhaul homestead property tax. This is a priority for the governor as he prepares to leave office and is exploring another presidential campaign. Any tax overhaul would then fall to the next governor to deal with.
