Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida's next state budget Monday in Tampa, putting his final approval on a spending plan that takes effect July 1. The budget totals $117.6 billion after DeSantis used his veto power to cut approximately $1.6 billion through rerouted funds and about $800 million in line-item vetoes. DeSantis presented the budget as a continuation of fiscal discipline, noting it marks the fourth consecutive year Florida has reduced its overall state budget. "Who else is doing that?" the governor said at the signing ceremony.
The budget allocates $30 billion for K-12 education, a significant increase from the less than $22 billion spent when DeSantis took office. Teacher salaries receive $1.56 billion in funding, with $200 million specifically directed toward educators with at least 10 years of experience. The state's transportation budget reaches nearly $16 billion and will fund road projects across multiple regions, including Tampa Bay, Central Florida, South Florida, Southwest Florida, Northeast Florida and the Panhandle. State workers in several categories will also see pay increases, including correctional officers, state law enforcement officers, firefighters and park rangers.
DeSantis highlighted Florida's strong financial position, noting the state expects to end the next fiscal year with approximately $18 billion in reserves, maintains a fully funded rainy-day fund and holds an AAA credit rating from major rating agencies. He also emphasized that Florida has retired more than half of its taxpayer-supported debt during his tenure. Environmental initiatives received substantial funding, with more than $9 billion directed toward Everglades restoration and water quality improvements, plus more than $2 billion for the Resilient Florida program to help communities prepare for storms and flooding.
The signing ceremony at Hillsborough College carried political significance given the campus's connection to a proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium district. Lawmakers included $50 million for campus improvements as part of the broader redevelopment effort. DeSantis said the college would benefit significantly if the stadium proposal moves forward. However, the budget signing was not without controversy. DeSantis had previously warned that local projects backed by lawmakers who did not support his priorities could face vulnerability to vetoes, a statement that drew criticism from Democrats and others who questioned whether the veto pen was being used as political leverage. The governor's office has not yet released a complete list of all budget vetoes.