Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) Wednesday signed into law Florida’s 2021-2022 budget bill, which he calls the Florida Leads budget.
The whopping $101.5 billion budget is the largest in state history, but the tax burden per individual Floridian is the lowest in the country, according to DeSantis.
“Well, I’m happy to report today that once I sign this budget, we will be signing a budget that responsibly supports our men and women in law enforcement, our K through 12 education students and teachers, conserves and protects our great environmental and natural resources throughout the state of Florida, and does so in a way that has the lowest per capita tax burden of any state in the country that has will probably be $10 billion in reserve, which will be about 10 percent of the overall budget,” DeSantis said during the bill signing in New Smyrna Beach.
In a press release, the governor touted some of the areas of focus of the new budget.
It includes $625 million for “Everglades restoration and water resources.”
It also allocates a total of $22.8 billion for K-12 education, which includes $120 million for “mental health initiatives,” $550 million “to continue raising the minimum K-12 teacher salary to the goal of $47,500.” The $550 million for teacher salaries is $50 million more than last year’s budget.
The budget spends $134 million “to provide funding for services to children and families who receive services through Florida’s child welfare system,” and $137.6 million for “community-based services for adults and children with behavioral health needs.”
The press release also touted significant spending on Florida’s military personnel and their families, along with cybersecurity initiatives.
There is still $9.5 billion left in the state’s coffers.
During the signing, DeSantis was chipper about the budgetary situation in Florida.
Many experts predicted that Florida would be among the hardest hit economically during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with its “service and tourism-based economy,” DeSantis noted.
But the state remained mostly open, and most businesses were never forced to shutter.
Not everyone was happy with the budget bill.
“Unfortunately, as he took his victory lap to hand out the bonuses, and brag about the many programs rescued as a result of the federal help, the governor never once directed thanks to those who made this possible. It was a crass example of freeloading off the hard work of others he doesn’t want to acknowledge because he doesn’t agree with their politics,” the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus said.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to dabroscareports@gmail.com.
Photo “Florida Senate Capitol” by Michael Rivera CC 3.0.