State budget cuts on the way following COVID-19 pandemic

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — State budget cuts are coming, and the question is no longer “if,” but rather, “how many and how deep?”

When lawmakers left Tallahassee in March, COVID-19 was already spreading, but layoffs and shutdowns hadn’t occurred yet. That would come weeks later.

In March, there was a $750 million hit to the economy. April was worse, coming in at $878 million.

Read: Almost 2,800 new coronavirus cases reported in Florida since yesterday

Florida TaxWatch recently issued a report of projects it refers to as “turkeys” -- $136 million dollars in projects that the legislature slid into the budget without proper vetting or outside normal channels. TaxWatch said those projects could get cut by the governor when he signs the budget into law.

In Central Florida, this means things like road expansions in Volusia and Orange counties, building improvements at Seminole State College, and the Groveland Train Depot in Lake County could get cut.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to deliver a veto list when the current fiscal year ends in two weeks.

Read: Next stimulus package: It could include vacation credit, second check

Florida has about a $4 billion rainy day fund and surplus.

The state has also taken in another $4.5 billion from the federal government, but state law requires a balanced budget.

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