Gov. In line with his proposed state funds for the following fiscal year, Ron DeSantis is asking legislators to devote$ 510 million to combat illegal immigration and establish a six-week sales tax vacation on purchases of weapons and ammunition.
DeSantis would devote almost$ 590 million to keep his famous home-hardening program going and re-enter the sales tax holidays for back-to-school and crisis preparedness in his recommended$ 115.6 billion budget.
Additionally, he may overturn the company hire income, which would save businesses$ 1.6 billion over the next two years, and establish a two-month gas tax vacation for Florida boats.
Overall, DeSantis said during a news conference on Monday,” This is a really good place for the state of Florida to be in.”
DeSantis ‘ resources for the fiscal year 2025-26 is a good idea. When it convenes for the monthly 60-day congressional session next month, the Republican-controlled Legislature may eventually develop the budget.
However, it comes as lawmakers get into a heated argument, some of whom are warning that they will scrutinize his saving more harshly.
His proposed$ 350 million inflows from Florida to other countries was rejected by lawmakers next year, leading to the passage of a bill that removes nearly all of his authority to enforce immigration laws. DeSantis vowed to reject the bill, but he sounded more apologetic on Monday, stating that he was negotiating a deal with legislators. The House Speaker and Senate President’s representatives declined to comment.
DeSantis is calling the” Focus on Fiscal Responsibility Budget,” which is$ 900 million less than the final budget for the previous year.
DeSantis proposes removing 741 vacancies from state state.
11 employees and about$ 11 million would continue to grow in his own office. Since he won the mayor’s office in 2018, state government has grown the fastest.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, claimed that the proposed budget by DeSantis ‘ did little to assist Citizens with the cost of living.
She said in a statement that” the Governor’s budget plan focuses on grabbing articles and trying to keep him important in the regional light while leaving Florida’s people behind.”
State legislators criticized DeSantis ‘ lack of protection of E-Verify, a federal program that evaluates new hires ‘ legal registration, last week. Since 2022, the position had not issued any quotes against businesses until Wednesday.
The Department of Commerce’s proposed budget adds 10 opportunities to maintain E-Verify, according to DeSantis ‘ suggested budget proposal. The federal government may be supported by another 21 jobs and close to$ 510 million in the fight against illegal immigration.
Under DeSantis ‘ plan, state police and firefighters would earn an up to 25 % pay raise. Florida Highway Patrol troopers needed more funding, according to the union representing them next year if they wanted to be the “tip of the lance” in the mayor’s immigration enforcement.
DeSantis urged a$ 609 million increase in the state K-12 funding formula, increasing it to$ 16 billion, as well as a further emphasis on education as a priority. He predicted an training budget of$ 29.7 billion in addition to localized tax revenue for schools.
He suggested increasing teacher pay by about$ 246 million annually, which had previously resulted in raises of about 1 %.
His funds forks out 3.2 million students in K-12 public schools, plus more than 350, 000 students who receive state-funded training vouchers. The nation’s largest voucher system, which is expanding this year and is the largest in the country, is expected to cost more than$ 4 billion, according to some observers.
DeSantis ‘ proposed budget also allocates$ 69 million for “infrastructure improvements and resource management” at Florida state parks.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection proposed 350-room huts, golf courses, and pickleball courts next time. Residents and lawmakers from both parties were upset about the  strategy.
DeSantis ‘ staff initially supported the ideas, but the governor soon announced he would put the ideas on hold and that the state would return to” the drawing board.”
DeSantis refuted the state’s presence and said,” there was never anything that was proposed at all when asked on Monday whether the proposed funding for this year’s funds had any relationship to the prior development ideas.”
DeSantis stated that the parks strategy would be to keep “what we have” and prevent damage or loss of the resources for the future budget.
DeSantis ‘ proposal suggests$ 27 million for cultural and museum grants, after cutting down more than$ 32 million in arts and culture funding from the budget last year.
That includes$ 1 million to help with tasks relating to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s filing on July 4, 2026.
DeSantis claimed last year that he had cut the money for” sexual” festivals and that the Legislature needed to reevaluate how funding for arts jobs was received.
DeSantis said,” I thought it was too much into the DEI ( diversity, equity and inclusion ), into the woke stuff.”
His plan for this year suggests combining the$ 27 million in art funding with a new rules to “ensure money just is provided to activities and programs that are suitable for all age groups.”
The secretary of state would have more control over what is funded and what arts programs are impacted by proposed legislation and cash, as well as A  and Bill , which are both supported by the bill .
State economists warned in December that the state would face a nearly$ 10 budget deficit in the next three years and that state lawmakers will no longer be able to spend as they have been, despite Florida’s growing economy and tax base.
DeSantis would even invest$ 83 million to pay off his state’s debt in a timely manner, a move that has become a hot topic at his campaign events.
DeSantis ‘ proposed budget also doubles down on his allegations of fraud in Florida’s citizen initiative process by setting aside$ 1.8 million for nine new positions to “perform investigations relating to petition fraud allegations.”
His administration released a statement last year accusing the , proposed abortion amendment of widespread fraud as DeSantis , engaged in a civil war against Florida’s two citizen-proposed legal modifications.
DeSantis has since advocated for significant changes to Florida’s plea program process, making it nearly impossible for a campaign to be put on the ballot.
Although it’s not immediately clear what the governor’s budget plan may look like, a$ 1 million plan for voter signature verification is included in the governor’s budget plan. The country’s voter registration system may be upgraded with another$ 2.5 million.
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