Governor DeSantis unveils $115.6B proposed budget for 2025-26 fiscal year

Gov. Ron DeSantis rolled out his proposal for the state budget on Monday, totaling more than $115 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.

What's in the governor's proposed budget?

By the numbers:

The governor's budget, which he calls "Focus on Fiscal Responsibility," is slightly lower than the state budget for the current fiscal year.

Money in state reserves

DeSantis touted Florida's "healthy reserves," which would total $14.6 billion if his 2025-26 budget moves forward.

Those reserves would include $4.2 billion in general revenue and $1 billion in the state's Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund.

"We're not going to spend more than we did the year before," DeSantis said at a news conference in Tallahassee.

The total budget is $3 billion smaller than last year.

"You can be fiscally responsible, respect taxpayers, and yet still deliver on the main promises that you made and the main public needs of our people."

The governor's proposed budget would also provide $830 million to help pay down state debt, including all outstanding bonds for such conservation projects as "Florida Forever" and Everglades restoration.

Immigration

The governor also took time to try to make amends for a fierce battle that took place last week, over an immigration bill he's threatened to veto.

"I endorse most of these people to be able to get (elected)," the governor said. "And I wouldn't have done that if I didn't think that they were good conservative members."

Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled his 2025-26 budget proposal at a news conference in Tallahassee.

Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled his 2025-26 budget proposal at a news conference in Tallahassee.

What they're saying:

Orlando Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani argues the dispute over immigration is a sign that the Republican governor has lost his mojo, given he has under two years left and jockeying is underway to succeed him.

Orlando Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani.

She was glad to see increases in education spending, but points out he took a polite tone the day he asked for their votes on a $100+ billion spending package.

"We have three branches of government," said Eskamani. "You can't operate independently. We control the purse. And it's going to be our responsibility to dictate where tax dollars go, how we spend the public's money. So his tone is absolutely a reset."

Tax reductions and holidays

DeSantis is proposing a series of tax cuts and reductions, including:

  • Fully repealing the state's business rent tax over the next two years, which the governor claims would save business owners $1.6 billion.
  • A one-year exemption of the "intangibles tax" (for the first $500,000) for homebuyers from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
  • "Freedom Month" sales tax holiday in July covering many items for outdoor recreation along with tickets to certain events and attractions. Gov. DeSantis says families could save $82 million.
  • 14-day back-to-school sales tax holiday on clothes, school supplies, educational materials and computers.
  • Two 14-day disaster preparedness tax holidays covering items ranging from batteries to pet supplies, along with generators costing $3,000 or less.
  • Weeklong ‘Tool Time’ sales tax holiday aimed at saving workers up to $18 million
  • "Second Amendment Summer" tax holiday from Memorial Day through July 4. This would exempt state sales taxes on guns, ammunition and other gun-related accessories.
  • Two-month marine fuel tax holiday to save boaters 29.5 cents per gallon.

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State spending

First responder pay

DeSantis wants to allocate more than $118 million to help raise pay for the state's law enforcement officers and firefighters, broken down as follows:

  • 20% for entry level officers
  • 25% for experienced officers
  • 25% for all state firefighters

Education

The governor is asking the Legislature for $29.7 billion, averaging more than $9,200 per student, which would set a state record. Of that funding, $1.5 billion would go toward teacher pay.

Florida's Bright Futures scholarships would also be fully funded, DeSantis said, with no tuition increase for state colleges or universities.

"We're really proud of holding the line on tuition," DeSantis said. "We want it to be affordable for people."

Conservation

The proposed budget calls for $1.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality projects.

"The amount of progress that we've made on that is truly historic," DeSantis said on the state's environmental efforts.

RELATED: DeSantis announces major investment in environmental protections on Earth Day

Transportation and infrastructure

DeSantis is asking for $13.8 billion for FDOT's Work Program, noting that money doesn't include billions in previously-approved funding for "Moving Florida Forward," which sped up major road projects around the state.

"You have projects that are breaking ground now that weren't even scheduled to start until next decade," DeSantis said.

PREVIOUS: Gov. DeSantis announces plan aimed at reducing traffic congestion on some of Florida's busiest roads

Disaster relief

The governor said he wants to fully fund the waiting list for the My Safe Florida Home program, which offers grants for homeowners to protect their homes from future storm damage through upgrades.

What's next:

The Legislature has the task of voting on the state budget and sending it to the governor's desk during its 60-day legislative session, which begins March 4.

The Source: This story was written using information provided by the Governor's Office.

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