New state budget advancing as FL Legislature prepares to end its session for the year

Florida’s Old Capitol and New Capitol, viewed from the Leon County Courthouse on March 21, 2022. Credit: Michael Moline

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Politics broke out on the floor of the Florida Senate Thursday as the chamber took up a $117.46 billion for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, with senators grousing about the governor’s power over spending and what one senator considered skullduggery.

The Appropriations Act (HB 5001) is the only bill the Legislature absolutely has to pass during its 60-day regular session, which is scheduled to wrap up on Friday. That’s when both chambers will vote its final passage. The bill represents a consensus by House and Senate negotiators, on the floor yet.

Members of the Appropriations Committee and its various subcommittees offered the document as providing historic advances in health care, prison conditions, environmental protection, and more.

State Sen. Doug Broxson, a Panhandle Republican representing Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and part of Okaloosa County. Credit: Florida Senate

The document makes “historic investments that will keep us in touch with every Floridian,” Appropriations Chairman Doug Broxson, a Republican from the western Panhandle, told his fellow senators.

But Democrat Victor Torres complained that the hard work the negotiators put into the budget — and the line items for things like local amenities prized by individual lawmakers — will soon be prey to the governor’s veto pen.

“I’m not worried about us here. I’m worried about when it goes to the governor’s office. That’s what I’m worried about. We fight for this money for our counties, and it’s so hard to get the appropriations because everybody’s got bigger counties, smaller counties, and then in the end you’ll see that list come out that it’s been vetoed, and it hurts,” Torres said.

Leaf blowers

Meanwhile, Democrat Jason Pizzo, representing parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, complained the budget would sneak in a state preemption of proposed bans on noisy and polluting gas-powered leaf blowers.

The state budget document states that: “$100,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a life cycle analysis of leaf blowers powered by an internal combustion engine or motor compared to other electric or battery-operated alternatives. The department must submit a report, including results and recommendations,
by January 1, 2025.”

Pizzo claimed Jason Brodeur, chairman for Agriculture Environment, and General Government Appropriations, was trying to sneak a substantive law change improperly through the Appropriations Act.

“How is that not cheating by just throwing on something fiscal to it?” Pizzo asked.

Brodeur replied that advocates of the local ordinances were engaging in “virtue signaling” without regard to the scientific data. “Without better information, we don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he said.

“We are spending money to do a study to find out whether or not we have good information with regard to how we’re powering these things in our homes,” Brodeur said.

‘Part of this process?’

When the House took up the budget that evening, Black Democrats lamented that they’re being shortchanged in terms of projects for their district, such as support for museums and food programs for children.

Dianne Hart of Hillsborough County estimated the budget contains $80 million in projects for members of the Black Caucus.

“That is sad. That amounts to $5 or something per person,” she said.

Bruce Antone of Orange County asked pointedly: “What do we have to do to be a part of this budget process?”

Emergency fund

Next year’s spending levels would compare with $117 billion during the existing fiscal year. The new bill includes $10 billion in reserves against emergencies.

The bill would pay down $500 million in state debt. It provides a 3% pay raise for state employees, according to a budget summary crafted by the House and Senate.

Of the total, $30.1 billion would go into education, including K-12 to the university system. That includes s $1.8 billion for K-12 funding, a 6.73% increase over existing spending, or $8,958.59 per student. The bill would provide $1.05 billion for student financial aid.

State Sen. Jennifer Bradley. Credit: Florida Senate

The bill contains $243.2 million for private colleges, including $46.4 million for historically Black colleges and universities.

The health care budget would amount to $717.1 million, including $245.7 million in increased reimbursement for Medicaid providers and $134.6 million to care for new mothers and babies.

There’s $7.3 billion for criminal justice, including much-needed improvements to state prisons.

“This funding will be used to add additional inmate housing units, fix and replace aging roofs and windows, update electric and plumbing, and begin to add air conditioning to dorms where feasible,” said Jennifer Bradley, a Republican from northeast Florida who chairs the Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee.

The effect, Bradley said, would “help modernize our facilities, create a more humane prison environment, and continue to enhance safety and security for our officers.”

Affordable housing

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement would get $494.9 million, including $1.3 million to tackle a backlog in forensic testing. There’s $1.3 million to continue DeSantis’ bonus program for police recruits.

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s Live Local housing initiative would get $258 million to encourage construction and preservation of affordable housing,

The budget would give $15.7 billion to the Florida Department of Transportation, including nearly $14 billion for actual roads, bridges, and the like.

The Department of Environmental Protection would get $3.4 billion, including $702 million for Everglades restoration, $1.7 billion for water quality improvements, and $528.6 million for acquisition of endangered lands.

The post New state budget advancing as FL Legislature prepares to end its session for the year appeared first on Florida Phoenix.