After Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a $116.5 billion budget–after vetoing more than $500 million–leaders and officials across Florida reacted to the final version.
State CFO Jimmy Patronis applauded the new budget.
“The Department of Financial Services (DFS) requested and received critical funding, including $1.3 million to support investigative efforts to fight insurance fraud and approximately $6 million to support the state fire college and arson lab to assist the next generation of Florida firefighters,” the CFO’s office noted.
“The state of Florida is an economic model for how the country should be run, including keeping a balanced budget while funding critical programs to support our citizens and businesses. With the governor signing the Framework for Freedom Budget, we have invested a record $116.5 billion into our state to support transportation, education, public safety, and the environment. All while keeping $15.3 billion in reserves and helping Floridians struggling with inflation with a record $2.7 billion in tax cuts. I’m thankful for the governor for also vetoing more than $500 million to ensure we keep spending in check. Thank you, Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for working every day to Keep Florida Free and ensuring our state is safe and prosperous so more hard-working families can live the American Dream right here in Florida,” Patronis said.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats, including state Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, took aim at the governor’s vetoes.
“Governor DeSantis’ budget vetoes are not only irresponsible, but they are harmful to Florida’s taxpayers. Instead of investing in Florida’s economy, Governor DeSantis has withheld over $500 million from Floridians in need of support simply because of Governor DeSantis’ political ambitions,” said Harris. “I am frustrated that millions of dollars will not be distributed to help the local community, including funding that would have supported local food drives, not only in Orlando but throughout the entire state of Florida. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, sponsored by the National Letter Carriers, allows Floridians with the means to donate to easily help their neighbors and would have brought an incredible amount of needed food into organizations that help distribute it in areas it is needed the most.
“While Governor DeSantis accredits ‘fiscal responsibility’ for his vetoes, he is doing so on the backs of hardworking Florida families,” Harris added. “While I firmly disagree with the decision to veto $500 million from the state budget, I am grateful that our bipartisan efforts to fund tourism programs survived the governor’s veto and will be distributed to Central Florida. Programs like Visit Florida support the critical workers that help make Orlando one of the best tourist destinations in the world.
“Unfortunately, many good projects that would have relieved Florida’s taxpayers with everything from flood water mitigation to neighborhood resource centers were vetoed because the governor is disconnected from the needs of average Floridians,” Harris said in conclusion.
But DeSantis also drew fire from the GOP, including state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who insisted the governor vetoed money for his district due to his support for former President Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primaries.
“The governor is clearly upset I endorsed Donald Trump for President, and so he took it out on the people of Sarasota County,” said Gruters. “Trump and I understand that people come first, and it’s our job to deliver clean water, jobs and a better America for the next generation. The governor clearly sees politics differently. Simply because I support his political opponent, the Governor chose to punish ordinary Floridians who want better water quality, less traffic congestion and increased resources for disabled children to find gainful employment. It’s mean-spirited acts like this that are defining him here and across the country.”
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro praised the governor’s management of the budget.
“Florida TaxWatch commends Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, House Speaker Paul Renner, and the Florida Legislature for the $116.5 billion Fiscal Year 2023-24 state budget, which includes unprecedented investments in critical needs, particularly environmental protection, as well as record tax relief for hard-working families,” said Calabro. “As a trusted government watchdog for over four decades, Florida TaxWatch also praises Governor DeSantis for his careful review of all projects in the proposed budget, which resulted in $510.9 million in vetoes. While our recommendation was only that he provide ‘special scrutiny’ to the 218 projects that we identified as Budget Turkeys – individual appropriations that circumvented a transparent and accountable budget process – he vetoed 68 of them, worth $82.6 million. The governor also vetoed $172.5 million of the $1.2 billion in member projects that Florida TaxWatch flagged for additional consideration because there is not a formal selection process for them and/or they do not serve a statewide purpose or align with a core function of state government.
“These strategic vetoes and the final budget are a reflection of Governor DeSantis’ responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and his commitment to Florida’s continued economic success,” Calabro added.
