Dear Friends,

The 2021 Legislative Session (and the ensuing Special Session on Gaming) has concluded. It feels good to be back in Senate District 12 with my family and friends. Thanks to Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Governor Ron DeSantis, we accomplished much and we are very proud of the strong position that Florida is in for the future. For the next two or three columns, we will highlight some of the work we did as a body, on behalf of the citizens of Florida. This month, we will report on the budget.

A quick note: In the last two columns, we have highlighted extensively our elections integrity bill and we are excited to report that the bill was approved by the legislature and signed by the Governor.

The legislature approved a $101.5 billion balanced budget that leaves $6 billion in state reserves, while making key investments in infrastructure, child welfare, and increasing the state employee minimum wage. The budget also included bonuses to our hardworking state and local first responders, teachers, and childcare providers, and nearly $1 billion will be provided to reimburse health care employees and emergency responders for childcare expenses incurred during the pandemic.

The Legislature further increases an already unprecedented level of per student funding for K-12 education, and increases our allocation to again raise teacher salaries. Totally spending for education in Florida is nearly $40 billion and is the second most significant portion of state spending, right next to healthcare. Do not let anyone tell you that Florida does not invest in education!

Health and Human Services represents $45 billion of state funding. This year we ensured that our Medicaid program remains fully funded, as well as the KidCare Program, which provides high quality health insurance for 229,000 children in Florida.

Significant investments are made to expedite water quality improvements and environmental restoration projects, as well as replenish the funds available for state highways projects, which declined last year as people spent more time at home due to the pandemic. Total funding for environmental and agriculture projects comes in at around $4.4 billion. This includes immediate  spending of $111 million to fund project grants and planning for threats from flooding and sea level rise.

The best part about all of this? These responsible and strategic investments are made without needing a state income tax and without taxing businesses to death like they have done in New York and California. Our budget is half the size of New York, and we have more people than they do. Yet, by keeping taxes low and allowing people more freedom, we can ensure Florida continues on its path towards a full economic recovery, and positions our state to address any potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Onward & Upward,

Senator Dennis Baxley

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