Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida's $117.6 billion state budget Monday in Tampa, using his line-item veto power to cut approximately $1.6 billion from the spending plan lawmakers approved. The budget takes effect July 1 and represents the fourth consecutive year DeSantis has reduced overall state spending through vetoes. The governor framed the action as fiscal responsibility, noting that Florida is one of few states actually cutting budgets rather than simply discussing it. He highlighted the state's roughly $18 billion in reserves and progress on debt reduction. "The debt has been cut in half, the reserves are good, the rainy day fund is flush," DeSantis said, adding that these are accomplishments "very few are able to actually accomplish."
The $1.6 billion in vetoes was distributed broadly across state priorities. About $800 million targeted direct line-item spending.
Florida's corrections system faced some of the largest reductions, with tens of millions cut from prison repairs, new housing units, capital improvements, and pay adjustments. The governor argued that some corrections spending was tied to new debt he did not want the state to assume. Water and resiliency projects also took a significant hit, with more than $170 million cut from environment, water, agriculture, resiliency, and parks-related items. This included local stormwater, wastewater, flood mitigation, and infrastructure projects throughout Florida.
Education spending also experienced notable reductions. The vetoes included $15 million for Catholic school security alongside millions in cuts to college infrastructure and programs. Affected institutions included Palm Beach State College, College of the Florida Keys, Indian River State College, and Florida State University's College of Nursing. DeSantis said the final budget still funded major priorities including education, transportation, environmental restoration, law enforcement, and tax relief.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell criticized the vetoes, claiming Democratic projects were cut at roughly twice the rate of Republican projects. She questioned the governor's priorities, suggesting he was more focused on cutting the budget than considering the people affected by the reductions. "What is this governor's priority?" Driskell asked. "Because he seems to be more obsessed with talking points and saying that he cut the budget rather than actually caring about the people who are going to be impacted by those cuts." DeSantis has previously stated that he considers lawmakers' support of his policy agenda when reviewing budget requests. Over eight years, DeSantis said his vetoes have totaled more than $10 billion, far exceeding cuts by recent predecessors combined.