TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled his proposed Freedom First budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 on Thursday, which totals $99.7 billion, with total reserves exceeding $15 billion.
According to the governor, the budget prioritizes funding for education, environmental resources and law enforcement, as well as ensures protections against mandates and lockdowns.
“In Florida, we have put Freedom First – protecting Floridians’ freedom to earn a living, to operate businesses and to choose educational options tailored for their children,” DeSantis said. “As a result of our commitment to freedom, Florida’s economy continues to thrive and Floridians are better able to provide for their families.
“Today, I am proud to announce my budget proposals that will build on our foundation of freedom by investing in priorities that matter to our residents. This budget puts Floridians and their freedoms first, keeps taxes low, and addresses key priorities – all while maintaining record budget reserves.”
The governor said the budget will ensure that there are no tuition increases for Florida’s colleges and universities and, if approved by the Florida Legislature, the budget will fully fund the Bright Futures scholarship program.
“You should not have to mortgage your entire future to get a two or four-year degree,” DeSantis said.
The budget also calls for a second round of $1,000 bonus checks for about 179,000 teachers and principals in Florida, as well as $600 million (a $50 million budget increase over the past year) for teacher pay.
The governor said supporting first responders and service members is also one of his top priorities and his budget calls for $5,000 signing bonuses for every law enforcement recruit in the Sunshine State, as well as $226.7 million to provide salary increases for those working in public safety.
More than $660 million is being proposed by the governor for restoration to the Everglades and $195 million for water quality improvements.
DeSantis proposed a five-month pause on the state’s gas tax for next summer, a weeklong lifting of sales taxes on certain outdoor recreational purchases, as well as 10-day suspensions of sales taxes on certain school supplies and disaster preparedness items, such as generators.
“As we’ve seen inflation take off in various sectors of our economy, Floridians need relief from that,” DeSantis said Thursday. “And while we can change the policies in Washington that are driving that, we can do our best to step up and provide relief for Florida families who need it.”
DeSantis critics were quick to slam the budget proposal as politically-motivated.
“Time and time again Governor Ron DeSantis leads with political rhetoric,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, told reporters after the budget was released. “He continues to use his bully pulpit, and in this case the state budget, for his own political ambitions.”
The Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers union, said the governor’s budget plan does not do enough to address a teacher shortage in the state.
“We’ve seen vacancies in our schools increase dramatically, and seen fewer people coming into the profession, and we’ve even seen an inconsistency in the sense that the governor recognizes with law enforcement that experience counts but fails to recognize that fact when it comes to educators,” said Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar.
Click here for more information on the governor’s proposed budget.