TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – The Florida Legislature will return Tuesday to start another special session to pass a balanced budget, the only constitutional requirement lawmakers have.
After failing to reach a budget agreement during the 60-day regular session, Florida lawmakers have to start the process over. Tuesday, both chambers will pass the same budget they passed in February, $1.4 billion apart.
Leaders have agreed on how much the state is going to spend in next year’s budget, but haven’t said what the number is. Senate Appropriations Chair Ed Hooper said last month that it will be less than last year’s because of the three- and five-year revenue outlooks.
“It clearly shows that we need to get back to a funding level pre-COVID. We’re getting there,” Hooper said.
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Lawmakers will spend the rest of the week going line by line to determine how much will be spent on things like education, healthcare and transportation.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said there are ways to spend less without sacrificing the needs of Floridians.
“We should stop all of this wasteful spending on political stunts that do not benefit the people of Florida. Half a billion dollars would go a long way in moving Florida from its current position as 50th in teacher pay,” Driskell said.
Driskell said she is hoping Republican infighting won’t continue to derail the budget.
“The consequences of not finishing with this extended timeline are too great. There are agencies and nonprofits who need to know what their budgets are. There are local governments that are wa,ting to negotiate contracts to make sure that they have allocated their money responsibly,” Driskell said.
As things stand, any budget differences not resolved this week will be decided by House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the budget after Memorial Day.
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