Politics

Gov. DeSantis wants another $62M to equip the Florida State Guard

Published

6 hours ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

He also wants further investments in the Florida National Guard’s Camp Blanding training facilities.

A proposed budget from Gov. Ron DeSantis includes $62 million to equip the Florida State Guard.

DeSantis in 2022 announced a push to reinstate a Florida State Guard, and launched the force the following year.

“Since 2023, the Florida State Guard has proven to be an invaluable force augmenting manpower and providing important resources to impacted Floridians during disasters,” reads a budget memo in the Governor’s “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget.

The $62 million would go toward equipment, including maritime vessels, essential vehicles, debris removal resources and training for rapid search and recovery efforts during and after natural disasters.

The Florida Legislature last year authorized expanding the force from 400 to 1,500 members, and DeSantis in his memo said the state needs to fund enough equipment to support a Guard of that size.

Importantly, DeSantis also wants to expand support for the Florida National Guard. He also included $7.2 million to pay for higher education for National Guardsman, along with $1.2 million in health insurance reimbursements.

“Florida National Guard recruitment and retention programs help provide a well-rounded force of soldiers that are supported not only in their National Guard duties but also in their careers,” the budget memo reads.

He also wants the state to invest $75 million as part of a multi-year investment in facilities at Camp Blanding, the National Guard’s joint training center in Clay County. On top of that, he wants $25 million for the first phase of a mission training complex there, including infantry battle courses and simulation courses. He wants some of that going toward barracks and facilities to support training of up to 5,000 guardsmen simultaneously.

The budget also includes $13 million for renovating and repairing other Florida National Guard facilities, including $5.5 million to revitalize and modernize all readiness centers in the state and $7.8 million for maintenance.

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Politics

Florida gambling officials try to crack down on illegal overseas wagering operations

Published

20 minutes ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

Florida officials advise when state residents bet on illegal wagering, they take funding from Florida programs.

With the Super Bowl fast approaching, Florida gaming officials are trying to stop overseas bookmakers and casinos from cashing in on illegal gambling operations in Florida.

Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) officials announced Monday they’re demanding three overseas operations that have established online gambling websites accessible to Florida residents and visitors halt operations in the Sunshine State. Cease-and-desist letters were sent to Milvus Ltc., also doing business as BetUS.com.pa, Harp Media B.V., also doing business as Bovada.lv and Gaming Services Provider, N.V., also doing business as MyBookie.ag.

“Gaming, both land-based and online, is strictly regulated in Florida. For example, when it comes to slot machine gaming, counting the eight legal, state-licensed slot machine businesses, and the six tribal gaming locations currently operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, there are only 14 legal slot machine businesses in Florida,” said FGCC Executive Director Ross Marshman. “The only online sportsbook operating lawfully in Florida is the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Hard Rock Bet. Anyone in Florida betting on the Big Game needs to know this. Bettor beware.”

The cease-and-desist letters state: “The gambling websites offered by your overseas bookmaking and casino operation offers or accepts wagering on sports and horse races, including betting on point spreads, moneylines, and totals, as well as proposition bets and futures in the sportsbook and adding money to bet slips in the racebook. Under Florida law, this conduct is a felony offense … Further, it is a felony offense to receive illegal wagers on the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power or endurance of human or beast, or to aid, assist, or abet such illegal wagering.”

A news release from the FGCC said illegal gambling offers “no benefit” to Floridians and only takes away tax revenue from legal operations. When legal operations are passed over for illegal gambling operations, it takes money from Florida programs and services supported through tax revenues collected from legal outlets in the state, FGCC officials advised.

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Ron DeSantis promotes ‘focus on fiscal responsibility’ for proposed Florida budget

Published

51 minutes ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

With a proposed Florida budget of $115.6 billion, which would leave $14.6 billion in reserves, Gov. Ron DeSantis said fiscal responsibility will be the theme for his 2025-26 spending plan, and his budget’s name this year reflects that.

The “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget represents a “significant’ reduction” over last year’s budget, DeSantis said.

“Florida’s steadfast commitment to fiscal conservatism is why we are in such good financial shape,” DeSantis said in a news release Monday. “Florida has experienced historic success by keeping government spending low while balancing significant investments in meaningful initiatives. These include expanding workforce education for high-demand jobs, providing family-first tax relief, ensuring that Florida’s students can access a quality education that fits their needs, expanding infrastructure to reduce congestion and restoring the Everglades.

“It is proof positive that when you act responsibly with taxpayers’ money, success will follow. I look forward to accomplishing even more for this state in the coming year on this firm financial footing.”

DeSantis said there have been 2.7 million new businesses launched in the state since 2019, the year he moved into the Governor’s Mansion. He added that under his administration, fiscal conservatism has helped pay down $1.7 billion in tax-supported debt while providing $2.2 billion in tax relief, all while reducing the size of government in the state.

The Legislative Session gets underway in Tallahassee March 4, during which lawmakers will craft and approve the state budget, typically with the Governor’s proposal as a guide post. DeSantis said he has his eye on continuing tax relief for Floridians by repealing the state’s business rent tax; creating a new venture capital tax credit program to spur investments in research, innovation, science and engineering; and continuing a plethora of other programs, such as back-to-school and disaster preparedness sales tax holidays.

His “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget will also prioritize “home hardening programs to continue efforts to lower property insurance premiums for Floridians and help reduce the costly impacts of hurricane damage to homes across the state.”

DeSantis also pointed out he’ll emphasize primary education in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as higher education.

While DeSantis is committed to financial restraint, he does call for expansion of services, such as disaster response and “investing in a healthier Florida.”

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Electric vehicle charging stations could help fund infrastructure projects

Published

1 hour ago

February 3, 2025

May Greene

The new measure could add millions of dollars to state coffers for infrastructure projects.

Florida lawmakers have proposed using certain funds gathered from public electric vehicle charging stations to help fund much needed critical infrastructure projects, such as new roads.

The measure (SB 462), filed by Indian Rocks Beach Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie, would move funds gathered from Florida’s public electric charging stations to the State Transportation Trust Fund through the Department of Transportation.

To address the impact of electric and hybrid vehicles and avoid implementing a new tax for electric vehicles, Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed distributing the current energy storage tax to support road projects, which is $4 million, according to Chris Dudley of The Southern Group.

The Florida Department of Transportation would distribute 6-cents per kilowatt hour of electricity used at public charging stations to the trust fund, which would begin in October 2025 and would be paid every month before the 25th day thereafter if the bill passes, according to bill language.

There are currently more than 11,200 public electric charging stations across the state, Axios reported. There were also nearly 168,000 registered electric vehicles in the state as of May 2024, putting Florida second behind California for most electric vehicle drivers in the U.S. The state is further aiming to have a public charging station placed at least every 40 miles.

The new measure could add millions of dollars to state coffers for infrastructure projects. The bill further notes the disbursal of funds to the trust fund would sunset on June 30, 2030.

The average electric vehicle uses approximately 34.6 kWh of electricity to travel 100 miles, according to GenCell, which also noted the electricity used by the average American driver would equate to 336.9 kWh per month. Per day, electric vehicles use approximately 11.3 kWh. Most public charging stations use between 10 and 30 kWh per charge, which would mean the state could collect between 60-cents to $1.80 every time a charging station is used.

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