TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Let the Florida budget negotiations begin.
The Florida Senate unanimously passed a nearly $109 billion spending plan Thursday with virtually no debate the day after the House passed a $105 billion plan after two hours of contentious debate over whether to punish schools that had mask mandates last summer.
The two sides now have until March 8 to agree on a budget to send to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis if they want to finish the annual 60-day session on time. The session ends on March 11, but lawmakers have to wait 72 hours to vote once the final budget is published.
One big difference between the spending proposals: The House, with support from DeSantis, wants to divert $200 million from 12 school districts that disobeyed the governor's order to not impose mask mandates. The Senate budget wouldn't punish the districts.
“I really want to thank you for not doing the $200 million punitive deduction from the 12, some of the largest public schools, which would really hurt students,” said Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky, the only member to debate on the budget.
Her district includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties, two of the largest in the state and both of which would be punished by the DeSantis-backed plan.
The House budget would distribute the $200 million in funding to the 55 other school districts that didn't impose mask mandates.
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