TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – State lawmakers started a special session Tuesday to pass a balanced budget, with both chambers passing the same budget proposals they approved in February.
The Senate’s initial proposal comes in $1.4 billion above the House plan. Lawmakers have three weeks to close the gap.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Pensacola, said he is hopeful lawmakers will vote on the state budget by May 29.
“Fortunately, it will be a budget that spends less than last year,” Gaetz said. “I think that models behavior in the right way, we should expect from the legislature.”
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House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said conversations are ongoing.
“There are a lot of conversations to go,” Driskell said. “I want to make sure they are actually good proposals that would help Floridians with the affordability crisis they are facing.”
Driskell said now is not the time to add to the state’s reserves.
“I don’t know you get to build up your rainy day fund if you’re not paying the bills that are on your table today,” Driskell said. “And the bills that are overdue for the people of Florida is making sure they have some real relief.”
Gaetz said he expects some relief in the final budget.
“Some additional help in terms of workforce housing, some additional help as far as Medicaid is concerned,” Gaetz said. “We’ll provide more Medicaid funding than last year. There will be more money in education.”
The vote is scheduled to happen after Memorial Day. The fiscal year starts July 1.
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