Gov. Ron DeSantis proposes a $115.6 billion state budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year that calls for increasing pay for law enforcement and firefighters, eliminating a commercial lease tax, and holding a new sales-tax "holiday" on guns and ammunition.
The proposal calls for $118.3 million in pay increases for state law enforcement officers and firefighters, a 20% increase for entry-level law enforcement officers, and a 25% increase for veteran law enforcement officers and state firefighters, according to the News Service of Florida .
Tax cuts are also called for in the package by the elimination of a tax that businesses pay on commercial leases. DeSantis' proposal states the tax would go from 2% to 1% on Jan. 1, 2026, and then be crossed out a year later.
The governor is also calling for the return of sales tax holidays, which allow shoppers to avoid paying sales taxes on school supplies and clothes in August, on disaster supplies at the start and the peak of the hurricane season and on recreational purchases throughout July.
A new tax-free holiday was also proposed between Memorial Day and July 4 that would temporarily remove taxes on guns, ammunition and related items. The holiday would save shoppers an estimated $8 million.
DeSantis also wishes to increase school funding and maintain it for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program at $632 million.
About $805 million was proposed in terms of environmental projects. Included in this budget was an Everglades restoration project, $3 million for removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades and constructing shooting and archery facilities in Liberty and Polk counties.
The proposal will be negotiated during the regular legislative session, which will begin March 4. The 2025-26 fiscal year will start July 1.
DeSantis disagrees with House and Senate leaders over an immigration bill that lawmakers passed during a special session last week.
DeSantis' proposal includes cutting 741 government positions and setting a goal of paying down 50% of the state’s tax-supported debt by the 2027-28 fiscal year.
The News Service of Florida and AP contributed to this report.
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