Florida set to approve nearly $80 billion budget

Author: Associated Press
Published:
MGN

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida legislators are expected to approve a nearly $80 billion budget that includes more money for schools and tax cuts.

The Florida Legislature will vote Friday on the budget and send it to Gov. Rick Scott. The final vote on the budget comes weeks after a standoff over health care spending and Medicaid expansion brought the regular session to a halt.

Republicans hailed the budget because it increases money for public schools and universities. GOP leaders were also able to secure millions for hometown projects, including money to create downtown campuses for universities in both Tampa and Orlando.

But Democrats criticized the final budget. They said that legislators ignored voters who approved a land conservation measure last year. The budget includes more than $50 million for land acquisition.

Democrats also said they couldn’t support the budget because the Legislature rejected a proposal to expand health care coverage.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.