By PATRICK GILLESPIE
On June 12, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget for the State of Florida, landing on a $116.5 billion budget to pay for state operations, after slashing nearly $1 billion in line-item vetoes.
The Governor’s recommended budget filed in late 2023 was roughly $114 billion and the Florida Legislature sent him a budget north of $117 billion.
“This budget delivers historic support for education, infrastructure, and conservation, yet spends less than the year before and includes major tax relief,” said Governor DeSantis in a news release. “We have paid down 36 percent of the state’s entire tax-supported debt over the course of my term, and the state maintains a AAA credit rating, one of the lowest tax burdens in America, and more than $17 billion in reserve.”
At an event in Tampa to announce the budget, DeSantis was joined by several of his state agency leaders, including Shawn Hamilton, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary. The two highlighted key portions of the budget that will support environmental protection, projects,
“We have, since 2019, secured over $6.5 billion for water quality improvements and restoration of Florida Everglades,” DeSantis said at the event. “That is so much more than anyone had been able to do prior. I’m really, really proud of that. Thanks to the Legislature for doing that.”
Hamilton said that the increased investments in water projects, particularly Everglades funding, is historic for the state.
“When you break a record, it’s not the same when you’re breaking your own record,” he said. “But it’s important to note that the record being broke is the largest investment in Everglades history – this fiscal year coming up. And that is amazing. We are definitely maximizing the investments to improve our water resources across the state and into the future.”
The Everglades Trust, a political non-profit focused on environmental protection, praised the budget in a news release.
“Governor DeSantis has continued to fulfill the promises that he made to Floridians by advocating for and securing a budget that contains over $740 million for Everglades restoration, as well as funding for resiliency and statewide environmental efforts,” said Anna Upton, CEO of the Everglades Trust. “It’s been clear from the beginning that he understands the importance of the Everglades – to our economy and environment – and has continually sought to push restoration forward.”
Among the environmental highlights in the budget:
$850 million for Everglades Restoration, including:
- $550 million for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
- $86.7 million for the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program
- $64 million for the EAA Reservoir
$535 million for targeted water quality improvements, including:
- $110 million for the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program
- $100 million for priority wastewater and stormwater projects that address water quality impairments in the Indian River Lagoon
- $25 million for water quality improvements in the Caloosahatchee River watershed
- $20 million for wastewater and stormwater projects that address water quality impairments and coral reef restoration in Biscayne Bay
$281.5 million for coastal and inland resilience, including:
- $225 million for implementation of statewide resilience projects
- $57 million for resilience planning and coral reef protection$55 million to restore Florida’s springs.
$40 million to combat harmful algal blooms and red tide across a range of actions
$55 million for the Alternative Water Supply Grant Program
$156.1 million in Florida’s conservation lands, including:
- $100 million for Florida Forever, in addition to $100 million for the Florida Wildlife Corridor in Senate Bill 1638
- $15 million for Florida’s state parks, is in addition to the $36 million provided for state park and trail management in Senate Bill 1638
- $15 million for the Florida Communities Trust
- $14.3 million for the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program
$234 million for cleanup programs
