The Briefing Room
State Chapters => Florida => Topic started by: libertybele on January 28, 2021, 10:14:20 pm
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Wow. I don't like seeing this over extended budget; some of the money coming from the feds and some from an increase in taxes; predominately property taxes. Yes the pandemic hit everyone hard; he kept us open and tourism is our main income but bottom line is we still have people who haven't seen a dime of unemployment yet he's putting us more into debt. We need JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! He is appropriate $50M for jobs and tourism -- but that's chump change out of the proposed $96B.
I see a lot of "fluff" in this budget, such as Everglades restoration. This is a political issue that has been in play for the past 30 years and not a whole lot is done -- lots of promises and a ton of money spent. In short, he's going to raise taxes. BIGLY!
DeSantis rolls out $96.6 billion budget plan
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday proposed a record $96.6 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, offering a more upbeat picture of Florida’s finances than lawmakers who will have to stitch together a spending plan as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hamper the economy.
During a news conference at the Capitol, DeSantis said his proposal would increase funding for public schools, continue funneling money into environmental issues such as Everglades restoration and direct dollars to initiatives like helping address sea-level rise.
But the proposal was a departure from projections that the state could face a more than $2 billion budget shortfall because of the economic fallout of the pandemic. Legislative leaders have warned repeatedly that they expect to have to make budget cuts as they negotiate a spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
DeSantis’ proposal – dubbed the “Florida Leads†budget – is a starting point for the legislative deliberations, and it relies heavily on federal money that has flowed into the state to help deal with the pandemic. Also, it would bank on such things as increased property-tax revenues to boost education spending, long a controversial issue.
The proposal would be about $4.3 billion higher than the current year’s budget. A summary of the proposal released by DeSantis’ office said $2.6 billion of the potential increase is related to the COVID-19 response or impacts of the pandemic.
“Despite the unprecedented circumstances and historic reductions, the Florida Leads budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 totals more than our current budget for the last year,†DeSantis said. “It’s $4.3 billion more. Most of that is directly related to COVID response efforts.â€
But as recently as mid-January, House Appropriations Chairman Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, warned of looming budget cuts, including the possibility of education cuts. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, also has raised the possibility of moves such as increasing university tuition – something not included in DeSantis’ proposal.
“You know, we’re going to need to look very hard and diligently at how everything is funded, and whether or not it meets muster. … And we will be squeezing blood out of turnips, as they say in my neck of the woods,†Trumbull said this month.
House Minority Co-leader Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach, described DeSantis’ budget proposal Thursday as a “wish list.†The annual legislative session starts March 2, but committees are scheduled next week to start reviewing the proposal.
“The governor’s proposed budget holds no sway, when it comes to when things are actually being done,†Jenne said. “Obviously, priorities will be prioritized for his benefit. But, in terms of the overall structure of things, it is really just political theater to make people feel like the economy is doing better than it actually is.â€.........
https://www.winknews.com/2021/01/28/gov-desantis-to-hold-budget-press-conference-in-tallahassee/ (https://www.winknews.com/2021/01/28/gov-desantis-to-hold-budget-press-conference-in-tallahassee/)
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John Cardillo
@johncardillo
Best Governor in America
Ron DeSantis
@GovRonDeSantis · 19h
Every Floridian has the right to earn a living. Florida is open, and we’ve got your back.
Video: https://twitter.com/johncardillo/status/1356278991989207044
11:31 AM · Feb 1, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
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He's beginning to draw people in and is becoming more known and popular. We'll see what happens.
Should he leave the governorship to run for President; who would fill his spot?
Maybe Trump? Wouldn't that make some heads spin!