JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled his $114.8 billion budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year Wednesday morning.
The ‘Framework for Freedom Budget’ puts $7 billion towards accelerating infrastructure projects, though none of those projects are in Northeast Florida.
“So, rather than wait another decade or so we’re gonna start those projects now,” said DeSantis.
The Governor also wants to fully fund the affordable housing trust fund at $402 million.
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He’s pitching $1.1 billion for environmental spending and $406 million for coastal resiliency projects.
On education, DeSantis is proposing $26 billion for K-12, reflecting a $205 increase in per-student funding and $1 billion dedicated specifically to teacher pay raises.
DeSantis wants Bright Futures to be fully funded and $100 million for universities to tap into to hire top professors.
“So, we’re strong on education across the board. Early education, of course, affordability in higher education, teacher salary increases, but also workforce education,” said DeSantis.
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The Governor is also pitching two back-to-school sales tax holidays, permanent sales tax exemptions on baby products, gas stoves, and pet medications, a year-long tax exemption on household items, and more – totaling $2 billion in tax relief.
DeSantis proposed permanently lifting sales taxes on gas stoves for Florida residents, despite Florida having the lowest percentage of natural gas cooking appliances per household in the United States according to preliminary data released in 2022.
Last month, a member of the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission said a potential ban on gas stoves could be considered to address emissions that may increase health risks. Conservatives blasted the idea, and commission Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric later released a statement that said the panel wasn’t seeking to ban gas kitchen appliances.
“They want your gas stove, and we’re not going to let that happen,” DeSantis said Wednesday.
With all of that, DeSantis said the state would still be able to place $15.7 billion in reserves and commit $400 million to help pay off the state’s debts ahead of schedule.
“It was only possible because we’ve been a state that’s been able to thrive over these last few years,” said DeSantis.
DeSantis is also pushing for pay raises for all state employees and the continuation of $5,000 signing bonuses for law enforcement.
The legislature will craft the final budget though.
They officially get back to work in early March.
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