(The Center Square) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his final state budget as governor Monday.
The $117.6 billion spending plan came after almost $810 million in line-item vetoes and a special session in May.
DeSantis marked his final budget signing with a look back at the mark he’s leaving behind.
“Over the last seven and a half years, Florida has set the national standard for conservative governance, while breaking record after record in economic strength, education, and environmental stewardship. We’ve delivered billions in tax relief to families while making historic investments in the priorities that matter most to Floridians,” said DeSantis. “This budget protects taxpayers’ interests, cuts spending for the fourth year in a row, and makes meaningful investments to build on Florida’s successes in education, public safety, environmental conservation, infrastructure, cancer research, and more. I’m proud that Florida continues to serve as the prime example of fiscal responsibility and government that works for the people of our state.”
During his tenure, Florida repaid almost 50% of state accumulated debt ahead of schedule and maxed out its Rainy-Day fund to the constitutional limit of $5 billion. The state also reduced over 1,300 positions and grew state reserves to almost $18 billion, according to the governor’s office.
Tax relief, which remained high on the governor’s priorities, tops out at almost $9.7 billion in tax cuts during his time in office. A keynote of those tax cuts includes the full repeal on commercial rent tax, which is estimated to save $2.7 billion a year for Florida businesses.
Democrats have criticized this year’s budget for focusing more on tax relief and not enough on affordability.
“This budget doesn’t do nearly enough to address Florida’s affordability crisis. Republicans will point to their billion-dollar tax relief program as enough, but very little of that tax relief is going to the average Floridian – instead, we’re giving handouts to huge corporations and special interests. Cutting taxes on NASCAR doesn’t help single moms pay the rent,” said Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman in a statement.
DeSantis highlighted relief targeted just for families including permanently exempting baby and toddler products, diapers, and sunscreen from state sales taxes and including in the 2026-2027 budget an expansion of a tax holiday that helps homeowners fund home hardening projects to lower insurance premiums and be better prepared for hurricanes.
The budget also puts a historic $30 billion toward K-12 public schools with the state’s highest ever per student funding of $9,338 and $1.56 billion for teacher raises. Early childhood education received $1.65 billion in funding, which includes $431 million for voluntary Prekindergarten.
Investing in economic growth, the budget puts almost $14.5 billion for the state transportation work program, $4.9 billion for highway construction and maintenance, over $155 million in seaport infrastructure improvements, and $374.7 million for aviation improvements.
Rural communities will see $27 million go to the Rural Infrastructure Fund that supports local infrastructure projects to support job growth and over $81 million to help small county governments with infrastructure repairs.
