DeSantis proposes $99B ‘Freedom First’ state budget: See what it includes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a news conference on Thursday to announce his proposed $99.7 billion “Freedom First Budget” for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

DeSantis said the budget includes maintaining total reserves at $15 billion.

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Here are nine things the proposed budget includes:

1. The budget includes a Fuel Tax Holiday in response to increasing gas prices. The governor said it will save Florida families over $1 billion.

READ: DeSantis says he plans to bring relief to Floridians at the gas pump

2. $100 million for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to support projects that create workforce training opportunities and invest in infrastructure.

3. A second round of $1,000 bonus checks for approximately 179,000 teachers and principals in Florida. DeSantis is also proposing $600 million, a $50 million budget increase over the past year, for teacher pay.

READ: DeSantis proposes $1K bonuses for teachers, $600M to increase minimum pay

4. To fully eliminate the Florida Standards Assessment and implement progress monitoring in its place, DeSantis is proposing $15.5 million in recurring funding to provide progress monitoring tools to schools.

5. $226.7 million to provide salary increases for those working in public safety, including 25% raises for all veteran state sworn law enforcement and 20% salary increases for entry-level state sworn law enforcement.

READ: DeSantis signs bills to prevent employers from firing workers over COVID-19 vaccination mandates

6. A $5,000 signing bonus for every recruit who is new to the law enforcement profession in Florida once they complete their training and they officially become a law enforcement officer.

7. The budget proposes more than $980 million for Everglades restoration efforts and protecting Florida’s water resources.

READ: Gov. DeSantis proposes new election reforms for Florida

8. More than $200 million in funding to support direct care workers with pay raises as well as $100 million for cancer research and $15 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research to enhance diagnosis and prevention strategies for those Floridians impacted by this disease.

9. The proposed budget invests $10.4 billion in funding for Florida’s transportation infrastructure.

Video: DeSantis, first lady announce $12M for mental health funding to benefit first responders Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis hosted a roundtable in Tampa on Friday to announce $12 million to fund mental health programing for first respon

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