DeSantis rolls out proposed $117 billion state budget

Florida Governor DeSantis Unveils $117 Billion Budget Proposal with Focus on Security and Law Enforcement

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis presented his proposed $117 billion state budget on Wednesday, emphasizing increased spending on law enforcement and campus security following the deadly shooting at Florida State University earlier this year.

During a press conference in Orlando, DeSantis highlighted what he described as the state’s fiscal responsibility as he approaches the end of his term-limited tenure. The budget, titled “Floridians First,” represents a significant increase from the $91 billion budget enacted when DeSantis first took office in 2019.

“This budget’s entitled ‘Floridians First’ because that’s the focus of it. It’s putting our people first and making sure we’re good stewards but also making sure that the needs that we have are being addressed,” DeSantis said.

The proposal includes $13.5 million for state law enforcement officer pay raises and allocates $20 million specifically to install door locks in classrooms across Florida’s university campuses. This security measure comes in direct response to the April mass shooting at Florida State University that killed two people and injured six others.

Environmental conservation remains a priority in the governor’s budget, with approximately $1.6 billion earmarked for Everglades restoration, water quality improvements, and broader conservation efforts. The plan also includes $1.56 billion for teacher pay increases, addressing ongoing concerns about educator compensation in the state.

Public safety receives significant attention with provisions to hire 500 additional corrections officers and prison personnel. The Florida National Guard would see an additional $91.7 million for facilities and guardsmen benefits, strengthening the state’s emergency response capabilities.

Despite these increases, the governor’s plan calls for eliminating more than 350 state government positions, including jobs in county health departments, raising concerns about the potential impact on public health services.

DeSantis has doubled down on his controversial call to slash property taxes across Florida, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats who argue it could threaten basic local services. To address potential shortfalls, the budget proposes $300 million to support fiscally constrained counties that would be disproportionately affected by property tax reductions due to their limited tax bases.

House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell criticized the property tax proposal, calling it a “shell game” that would leave small and rural counties in a “welfare state,” dependent on annual appropriations from state lawmakers.

“That’s not fair to the local elected officials who are trying to serve their communities. And frankly, I think that we should leave property taxes alone and focus on the actual issues of affordability that people care about,” Driskell said.

The governor also defended Florida’s controversial investment in temporary immigration detention centers, insisting that the federal government will reimburse these expenses. He announced plans for a fourth detention site in the “southern half” of the state, adding to existing facilities including a remote detention center in the Everglades nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” and a repurposed state prison near Jacksonville. A previously announced site in the western Panhandle has yet to open.

According to a DeSantis administration budget official, the federal government has committed to reimbursing the state $608 million for detention center-related costs, though the reimbursements are still being processed.

The budget proposal now heads to the Republican-controlled state legislature, which will consider the governor’s recommendations before finalizing the state’s spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. As one of DeSantis’s final major policy initiatives before leaving office, the budget reflects his continued emphasis on law enforcement, security, and conservative fiscal policies that have defined his governorship.