Senate budget proposal rings in at $115B

The Senate has published its proposed budget, capping off a confused 24 hours about when, or even if, numbers would be published.

The Senate spending plan calls for $115 billion in spending. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Ed Hooper said that’s less than the $115.1 lawmakers allotted in the current fiscal year, as noted in Florida’s Fiscal Analysis In Brief. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ vetoes last year dropped that total below $114.8 billion.

The proposed Senate budget spends more than the House proposal for Fiscal Year 2026-27, which came in at just under $113.6 million.

Both chambers’ budgets rang in at well below the $117.4 billion called for in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget plan from December.

“Limiting the size and scope of government helps keep Florida affordable for families and seniors. Many items needed to raise a family and retire with dignity are tax free, and we want to keep it that way,” said Hooper, a Clearwater Republican.

“Our revenue forecasts, while still growing, have stabilized, so by spending less than we have, we are continuing to right-size our budget for the long-term, maintaining a healthy savings account and preserving the permanent, meaningful, broad-based tax relief that families and businesses plan for and count on.”

Senate officials said if last year’s budget was adjusted based on a 2.7% increase in the consumer price index, spending would ring in at $118.2 billion, and if it were based on 1.4% estimated population growth, it would have grown to $116.7 billion in spending.

Instead, the proposed budget comes in lower than either of those numbers by more than $1 billion.

Senate President Ben Albritton said the budget will facilitate long-term financial stability.

“The best thing we can do to keep Florida affordable is to keep taxes low, limiting the financial burden taxes and regulations place on Florida’s families and businesses. To keep taxes low, state government has to live within its means, pay down debt, and save for the future. These key principles reflect the sound financial stewardship Floridians expect and deserve,” said Albritton, a Wauchula Republican.

“Floridians are counting on us to maximize the use of their tax dollars by responsibly investing in key functions of government in a meaningful way, chief among these are education, health care, public safety, as well as our environmental, transportation, and clean water infrastructure. Through this budget, we are holding the line on spending, living within our means and striking the right balance between spending and saving.”

Senate leaders stressed that the budget will provide record spending for public schools, including raises for teachers, while supporting school choice options. The education spending was proposed in line with oversight and transparency measures already approved in the Senate but awaiting action in the House.

Senate Education PreK-12 Appropriations Chair Danny Burgess stressed the education support,

“Again this year, Florida taxpayers will make an unprecedented investment in our children’s education, providing $30 billion for public schools and K-12 scholarships, representing a $693 million increase over the current year,” he said. “This level of funding increases per student funding by $150.98 and increases the Base Student Allocation by $50. We are also raising our annual investment in teacher raises to more than $1.4 billion.”

Senate Higher Education Appropriations Chair Gayle Harrell stressed that doesn’t stop at high school.

“We are funding an increase in operating funds for school district workforce education programs along with $80.7 million for the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program for public schools and colleges to fund the creation or expand career and technical education programs,” she said.