State Guard missions cut as budget talks continue

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial State Guard won’t get any Florida taxpayer money for its air and sea missions, information technology, crisis response operations or special missions.

Budget negotiators signaled they were done discussing those items Friday and had agreed on the House’s position not to fund them.

The Senate initially wanted to spend $15.3 million for the State Guard’s aviation expenses, $3.2 million for crisis response and special missions, $1.7 million for maritime expenses, and $494,000 for information technology.

That faced pushback from the House, which wanted to spend nothing.

But other State Guard-related expenses are still on the negotiating table, according to the Senate’s latest offer in the Transportation and Economic Development (TED) budget conference.

The Senate lowered its stance from $4.6 million to about $3.9 million to fund 32 full-time State Guard positions, according to its second offer released Friday afternoon. The House, again, wanted to wipe out the funding.

But the Senate is also seeking more money for State Guard operations. The Senate initially asked for $1.6 million but raised it to $3.6 million in its first and second counteroffers. The House didn’t budge and is still asking for $0.

The Senate lowered its proposal to increase the workload for the State Guard from $901,000 to $601,378 in its latest offer to move toward the House’s $0 position. 

The House’s hesitancy to fund the State Guard comes amid media reports about the State Guard’s turmoil following allegations of misspending, a wave of senior departures and retaliation for whistleblowers.

Regarding maintaining the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center’s Level 2 status, the House still is seeking $40 million. The Senate, which initially proposed $10 million, has nixed that offer and is now asking for $0.

The House and Senate are continuing to negotiate during budget talks that resumed this week in Tallahassee as lawmakers work to pass the budget, something they failed to do during the 60-day Regular Session.

Senate President Ben Albritton said Friday he expected a final budget vote just after Memorial Day.