TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Floor debate on the state's record $78.6 billion budget began Thursday. Florida schools will see record funding in the new state budget, but property owners will pick up the tab for the increased spending.
A final vote on the budget can't take place until late Friday afternoon in the Senate and early evening in the House.
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There will be 30,000 new students in Florida schools next year. The increase kept lawmakers from approving the highest per pupil spending in state history. They had to settle for the highest total ever.
"The FEFP budget increases funds for students by 3 percent, which is a $206.52 per student increase," Rep. Erik Fresen said.
But the increase comes at the expense of local property taxes. Of the nearly 800 million increase Florida schools will see, $2 of every $3 will come from local property taxes.
"So when we talk about increases in education funding, really what we are talking about is the lion's share of that coming from local funds," Rep. Jose Rodriguez said.
The budget debate is taking place nearly two months later than it should have. A legislative meltdown in April over hospital funding was resolved with $400 million in state money and hard feelings over the failure to expand healthcare to the working poor.
All eyes are now on the governor, who didn't get the level of tax cuts or education funding that he wanted and who has threatened massive vetoes in the past.
Lawmakers added $300 million in local projects at the 11th hour. The Senate budget chairman all but made a plea to the governor not to be vindictive.
"What I've learned over time is that there are vetoes of principle, and then there are vetoes that are merely a state of mind," Sen. Tom Lee said.
After a final vote on Friday, Gov. Rick Scott will have until the end of June to sign or reject the spending items.