Capital Bureau | USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
Gov. Ron DeSantis' budget proposal for next year could inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the North Florida economy — and build a new state emergency operations center in Tallahassee.
DeSantis wants to use $225 million to boost the pay for nearly 97,000 workers in the state personnel system, and another $228 million to provide sworn law enforcement officers a 25% pay increase.
That salary increase alone, with 19,000 state workers in Leon County, adds roughly $44 million to local workers' pay.
The main story:Helped by federal aid, Gov. Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal
“Every state employee under our budget will be able to see a salary increase,” DeSantis said at a Thursday budget presentation at the Capitol.
His budget, however, is just a proposal to lawmakers, who will come up with the official state budget for 2022-23 during the annual legislative session that starts Jan. 11. As governor, DeSantis has line-item veto power over whatever spending plan they approve.
Health insurance premiums for state employees will remain frozen at current levels, and DeSantis calls for an expansion of benefits to include mental health coverage.
“We’ve had a lot who worked very hard over the last year and half and we’re happy we are able to do this,” DeSantis told reporters.
But rank and file workers and their representatives question whether DeSantis is right about every state employee getting a raise.
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