Budget

Lee County is looking at a flat budget this coming year, based on preliminary property tax numbers. And, if voters approve major changes to the tax system in November, deep budget cuts may follow in future years.

Florida TaxWatch has released its annual list of "budget turkeys,” including $50 million for Hillsborough College improvements associated with a proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a $114.5 billion spending plan Friday, wrapping up a special session to complete the budget more than two months after they failed to do so during the regular session. The Senate voted unanimously in favor of the budget and the House voted 99-6 for the plan, but the vast support for the measure belied the tense process to produce it.

Following an extended Legislative session, Florida’s Senate and House agreed on a budget. Before it became official, Governor Ron DeSantis brought out his red veto pen and made some major changes.

The Senate has hauled President Donald Trump's big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts to passage after a turbulent overnight session. The bill next goes back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana warned off big revisions from his chamber's version. But senators did make changes particularly to Medicaid health care. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota worked through the night and ino Tuesday to strike a last-minute agreement between Republicans worried the bill's health care reductions will leave millions without care and his conservative flank seeking steeper cuts to hold down deficits.

In an 11th-hour and unexpected move, DeSantis cut close to $6 million in funding for public radio and television stations across the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed what he said was a $117.4 billion budget for the fiscal year that will start Tuesday and issued $567 million in line-item vetoes, while saying the plan better prepares the state for potential economic downturns.The budget includes $580 million to pay off state debt, and lawmakers approved a separate bill (HB 5017) that requires an annual $250 million repayment of state bonds.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a $1.6 billion tax-cut package that is dominated by eliminating a commercial-lease tax and providing sales-tax breaks on back-to-school items, hurricane-preparedness supplies and guns and ammo.At the same event where DeSantis signed the tax-cut package he also approved a new state budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which will start July 1.

the Florida House and Senate celebrated their version of the state’s budget. The proposal is a reduction from last year’s and is missing some elements that were proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

One of the more contentious legislative sessions in recent history came to a close late Monday as lawmakers approved a $115.1 billion budget for next fiscal year and prepared to send it to Gov. Ron DeSantis.