TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday unveiled a proposed $117 billion state budget that increases funding for law enforcement, campus security at public universities, and teacher pay, among other priorities. The proposal comes nearly nine months after a mass shooting at Florida State University that left two people dead and six others injured, prompting calls for improved campus safety measures.
Speaking at a press event in Orlando, DeSantis highlighted the budget’s focus on fiscal responsibility, labeling it “Floridians First.” The plan includes $13.5 million in raises for state law enforcement officers, $1.6 billion for Everglades restoration and water conservation, $1.56 billion for teacher pay increases, and $20 million for classroom door locks and other campus hardening measures. The proposal also calls for hiring 500 additional corrections officers and increasing funding for Florida National Guard facilities and personnel by $91.7 million, while eliminating more than 350 state government positions, including some county health department roles.
DeSantis has continued advocating for property tax cuts, which he said would be partially offset by $300 million in state funds to support fiscally constrained counties. Critics, including Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, warned that such cuts could leave small and rural counties dependent on state support, creating a “welfare state” scenario.
The budget also maintains funding for the state’s temporary immigration detention centers, with plans for a fourth facility in southern Florida. Officials said the federal government has pledged $608 million to reimburse the state for related expenses, though the payments are still being processed. The state’s current detention sites include a remote Everglades facility known as Alligator Alcatraz and a converted prison near Jacksonville, with an additional planned site in the western Panhandle.