There’s no shortage of pay bumps for law enforcement in the Florida Senate’s proposed 2023-24 budget.
For starters, the newly released spending plan includes another $20 million for new state police recruits, a key feature of the separate “Freedom First Budget” Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this month.
But there’s a lot there for cops already on the job, including a $110 million set-aside to pay one-time $1,000 “recognition payments” to local police, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics.
There are also “critical” bonuses for Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Financial Services Department officers and support staff in more than two dozen counties.
FHP troopers working and living in Alachua, Baker, Brevard, Clay, Charlotte, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie and Volusia counties would receive a $5,000 bonus. Those in Collier, Lee and Monroe counties would receive a similar sum.
For troopers in most of those counties who perform additional duties — including K-9 handlers, felony officers, members of a motorcycle squad and criminal interdiction, criminal investigation, intelligence, new recruit background check and training, drug recognition and technical support officers — there would be another $2,000.
Officers who are part of the Florida Highway Patrol’s Quick Response Force, Honor Guard and Advanced...
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