TALLAHASSEE — In a late-night push to meet the end-of-session deadline, Florida lawmakers reached critical agreements on Friday regarding targeted pay raises for specific state workers and funding allocations. The deals include a 4% salary increase for corrections officers, state law enforcement officials, and firefighters, alongside a boost in spending for citrus research and an emergency response fund. These negotiations were part of intense final meetings between House and Senate leaders aiming to complete the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Targeted Pay Raises Replace Across-the-Board Increase
A significant shift in the agreement involves the rejection of a proposed across-the-board 3% raise for all state workers, which had been preferred by the Senate. Instead, lawmakers focused on retaining key personnel in high-turnover fields. Corrections officers will receive the aforementioned 4% raise, supplemented by a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to their pensions. This move addresses long-standing recruitment and retention struggles within the prison system.
"We've heard, especially in the corrections world that retention is really tough," Senate budget chief Ed Hooper told reporters. "COLA is one more tool in the toolbox."
Budget Disputes and Emergency Funding Allocations
The path to this agreement was complicated by a dispute over overall spending levels, which prevented lawmakers from finalizing the plan during the regular session ending in March. The House had insisted on cutting $1.4 billion from the current year's $115 billion spending total, while the Senate favored level funding. Ultimately, chambers agreed to allocate $250 million into an emergency fund that Governor Ron DeSantis can use for immigration enforcement operations following his declaration of a state of emergency.
Additional Allocations and Legislative Requirements
Beyond public safety pay, the budget includes more than $164.5 million for citrus research, nearing the Senate's preference due to its priority status among lawmakers like Senate President Ben Albritton. The agreement also secures funding for the Florida State Guard and a Job Growth Grant Fund with $40 million reserved for job training and infrastructure projects.
Lawmakers must finalize this spending plan by Tuesday to satisfy the constitutional 72-hour "cooling off" period before voting on Friday, the last day of the special session. The emergency funding is contingent upon Governor DeSantis signing SB 7040 into law, which imposes new rules requiring Legislative Budget Commission approval for spending on manmade emergencies, more details at NBC News.
