Key Senate and House committees were flooded with federal cash and higher than expected tax collections Wednesday and moved forward with budget proposals about $3.3 billion apart.
The House Appropriations Committee approved a $105.3 billion budget with accompanying bills. This included a plan to establish a $2 billion fund to address inflation-related costs.
Separately, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved 104 amendments. It includes a $1.46 Billion increase in the main funding formula to public schools and money for worker raises to bring minimum wage to $15 an hour.
The Senate package does not contain what the House calls an inflation response fund. However, Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), Senate Appropriations Chairperson, said that it is worthy of discussion.
Stargel observed that there are a lot of things Stargel does that could potentially lead to financial inflationary issues.
Stargel stated that, despite the push to increase the salaries of state workers, our budget focuses mainly on the lowest-earning Florida residents.
Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City), House Appropriations Chairman, described the Houses budget to be bold and resilient. He highlighted issues like pay increases for state workers, and the creation the the inflation fund.
The House committee debate was focused on a plan to transfer $200 million from 12 school districts that had resisted Gov. Ron DeSantis and other leaders from the states worked together to stop student mask requirements during COVID-19. The $200 million would go to 55 districts that do not have mask mandates.
The Putting Parents First Adjustment, also known as the Alachua, Brevard and Broward school districts would see less money going to them in Alachua or Broward, Broward, Duval schools, Hillsborough, Indian Rivers, Leon, Leon, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach and Sarasota counties.
Randy Fine (Republican from Brevard County), House PreK-12 Appropriations chairman, stated that although the targeted school district would receive more money next fiscal year than the current fiscal year, the increases would be reduced. Fine also pointed out that the budget did not contain any provision that would reduce funding for any educational service or resource that directly impacts students’ education.
Fine that lawmakers have the power of purse.
Fine stated that this is all we have as legislators in any area, education or otherwise, to hold people responsible for following the policy decisions we have made. It is not punitive, I think. I believe it holds people accountable and is implying that we expect all our school districts to follow the laws we pass.
Democrats opposed the move. Rep. Fentrice Driskell of Tampa, D-Tampa, said she was concerned about picking winners or losers. She said that local school officials tried their best to keep students safe during the pandemic.
Driskell stated that it was disingenuous and unjustifiable to punish these school districts, stating that it is ultimately what it amounts.
Stargel said that she doesn’t know the details, and the Senate hasn’t proposed shifting money from the 12 districts.
Stargel stated, “When we get into conference (budget negotiation) and look at all the details, there may be some discussion.”
The Senate and the full House now have access to the proposed budgets for the fiscal years that will begin July 1. After that, they will be available for negotiation.
Both of the proposed budgets are significantly higher than the $100 billion in the current fiscal years. This is due to the fact that the state continues receiving a boost through federal stimulus money and because tax collections have exceeded expectations.
Wednesday’s protest at a Senate bill (SB2508), which is tied to the budget, was led by environmentalists, tourists, and charter boat operators. They stated that the bill would partly eliminate or threaten funding for a huge reservoir designed to improve the waterways of South Florida by increasing the flow through the Everglades.
The Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir, valued at $1.9 billion, was approved to reduce the release of contaminated water from Lake Okeechobee into St. Lucie-Caloosahatchee estuaries. These estuaries have struggled in recent times with toxic algae.
Eric Eikenberg, CEO, The Everglades Foundation, stated that if you move forward with this bill it will eliminate funding for the project that all the fishing guides, chambers and commerce, and the tourism industry across the state (are) dependent upon.
Senators said that people were misunderstood by social media and misread the bill before it was approved.
Senator Ben Albritton, Wauchula Republican, chairs the Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. He said that the budget proposal included $64 million in annual funding to the reservoir, and that the related bill sought more accountability from South Florida Water Management District.
Albritton stated that he believes you have been misled. I believe that asking for more accountability of an agency that receives 70% from the state of Florida is good government. That’s good governance. We have the right and opportunity to do so.