TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After officially receiving the $93-billion budget for next year, Governor Ron DeSantis now has the difficult task of deciding what stays and what goes as COVID-19 reduces state revenue.
The latest numbers show Florida is nearly $680-million below what was forecast. Future revenue expectations are just as bleak.
North Florida teacher Mis’Shaylanqua Smith is hoping the anticipated budget cuts won't include $500-million approved in the last legislative session to boost educator salaries, or cuts to education in general.
“Teachers want to know do I have a job next year?” Smith said. “Will the budget sustain the staff that we have? Schools need to be at the top of the list. Students are our first and foremost priority.”
The ed appropriations came after months of protest and lawmaker lobbying. But finance experts at Florida TaxWatch worry there isn’t enough room in the coming fiscal year to accommodate. The watchdog pushed the governor, Thursday, to postpone planned teacher and state worker raises until January of next year at least.
TaxWatch stressed on Friday the move should only happen as a last resort if budget conditions don't improve.
“This should only be done by delaying them," said Kurt Wenner, Florida TaxWatch Research VP. “Not eliminating or reducing them.”
The idea was one of many from the watchdog group, proposing ways for Florida to save $6-billion.
Other recommendations included:
- Eliminating almost every project for individual lawmakers
- Major cuts to the temporary state employee fund
- More use of bonding
- And placing 5% of Florida’s general revenue in reserves
“We fear that the worst news regarding revenue shortfalls is still yet to come,” said Dominic Calabro, Florida TaxWatch CEO. “This means that serious action to control spending and increase revenues moving forward.”
Though it's unclear how they can be used, Florida’s governor said this week Federal Cares Act dollars would help fill the gap in revenue. DeSantis also warned he’s still planning to make heavy use of veto powers.
“It’ll be a lot of red,” said the Republican governor. “It’s kind of the veto equivalent of the 'red wedding' from Game of Thrones.”
DeSantis later softened the statement, saying he wanted to deliver on as many promises from the last session as possible.
Smith hoped that included education.
“It’s an investment in our future,” she said. “It’s an investment in our students and our students are our most valuable resource.”
There has been an ongoing discussion about bringing lawmakers back to the capitol early to deal with a variety of issues, including the budget. DeSantis reiterated this week he doesn’t think that would be necessary.