TaxWatch 2022-23 Budget Guide 

Education Budget Highlights

The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) will provide $24.294 billion to school districts, an increase of $1.695 billion (7.5 percent). This includes $10.740 billion in local funding which is not included in budget totals. The overall 6.0 percent decrease in total public school funding is largely due to last year’s inclusion of $2.2 billion in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds for costs related to the pandemic and for reopening schools, remediating learning loss, purchasing technology, and locating unaccounted for students.

Per-Student FEFP Funding of $8,142 is an increase of $385 per student (5.0 percent). There are 70,577 more students expected in public schools.  The base student allocation (flexible funding) will increase by $214 per student (4.9 percent).

Teacher Compensation – The Teacher Salary Increase Allocation created last year was increased from $550 million to $800 million to continue to raise the minimum K-12 teacher salary to $47,500 (top 5 nationwide).

Other FEFP Increases – The Legislature also provided increases in the Safe Schools ($30 million), Mental Health ($20 million), and Reading Instruction ($40 million) allocations.

Federal Funds – Much of the ESSER funds mentioned above have yet to be spent. The new budget provides that the unexpended balance of $674.0 million appropriated last year, plus $201.6 million in American Rescue Plan Funds, will be distributed to all school districts to implement summer enrichment camps that target students’ academic and extracurricular needs, after school programs, and individualized tutoring services that address public school students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. This money is technically appropriated for FY2021-22 (even though it will be spent in FY2022-23) so it is not counted in the new budget totals.

Workforce Education – Public school workforce education programs received a $56.1 million (10.7 percent) increase over last year’s funding level. 

Early Learning – A good year for early learning, as the Voluntary Pre-K program received an additional $44.8 million to boost per-student spending by $317 (12.8 percent), the highest base level funding ever. 

State Colleges will enjoy a significant increase in total state funding of $166 million (12.2 percent), including $55.0 million in increased operational support. Recurring funding of $35.0 million goes to the Open Door Grant Program to create a demand-driven supply of credentialed workers for high-demand occupations and expand the affordability of workforce training and credentialing. 

State Universities received a $278 million (5.2 percent) increase in total funding, which includes $560 million in performance funding, $295 million of which comes from universities’ base funding. Increased funding is also provided for cybersecurity resiliency ($20.5 million) and the Moffit Cancer Center workload increase ($10.0 million).

Nursing Education – $125 million is provided to create two new nursing education programs to assist with the nursing shortage. These will reward performance and excellence of programs at Florida’s career centers, state colleges, and universities and incentivize collaboration between nursing education programs and healthcare partners.

Public Education Capital Outlay – It was a very good year for educational facility funding. In addition to $470.8 million in state funds, the Legislature appropriated $1.466 billion in federal fiscal recovery funds for construction and maintenance.

Maintenance – Neglected for several years (except for charter schools), $843.7 million in federal funds were provided for university and college maintenance and repair projects. State funds went to charter schools ($195.8 million) and public schools ($11.4 million).

Construction Projects – Funds were provided for colleges ($179.2 million), universities ($457.0 million), public schools ($78.3 million), and developmental research (Lab) schools ($8.1 million).

Human Services Budget Highlights

Criminal Justice Budget Highlights

Correctional Facilities – The Governor vetoed $650.0 million to construct a new 4,500-bed prison and $200.0 million for a new 250-bed correctional hospital. The governor did approve $16.4 million for repair and maintenance operations of corrections and juvenile justice facilities statewide.

Correctional and Probation Officers – The minimum salary will be increased to $41,600 ($20 per hour) and other position classifications ranging from $45,760 to $57,886.  This is in addition to the 5.38 percent increase given to all state employees. Funding is also included to continue the transition of correctional officers from 12-hour shifts to 8.5-hour shifts at state-operated institutions.  

Private Prisons – $33.9 million is provided for private prison per diem increases associated with contract re-procurement, and to provide salary increases for correctional officers in privately operated facilities to mirror increases provided to state correctional officers. 

Juvenile Justice – Provider pay is increased to ensure a minimum wage of $15 per hour ($5.3 million).  Funding was also increased to expand vocational and educational services
($3.7 million), prevention and early intervention programs
($1.6 million), and electronic monitoring enhancements
($1.0 million).

Law Enforcement Pay and Recruitment – $15.0 million is provided for salary increases for Deputy Sheriffs and County Correctional Officers in fiscally constrained counties.  $20.0 million is provided to issue signing bonuses of up to $5,000 for new recruits and out-of-state officers who join Florida police departments, sheriffs’ departments, and state law enforcement agencies. New officers from out of state will also receive up to $1,000 for recertification process costs when relocating to Florida. Another $5.0 million will go toward scholarships to help students complete the required training to become a law enforcement officer. 

Adoption Benefits – Law enforcement officers who adopt a child from within the child welfare system will have access to benefits including $10,000 for adopting a child and $25,000 for adopting a child who has special needs.

First Responders – Up to $125 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan will provide another $1,000 bonus payment for essential first responders employed by the local government as a sworn law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, firefighter, or paramedic.

Legal Affairs/Attorney General – To address increased workload, $3.5 million is provided to the Office of the Solicitor General and Statewide Prosecution Units.

Judicial Branch Budget Highlights

Environment Budget Highlights

Everglades Restoration – The budget invests more than $600 million for Everglades restoration. This includes $86.5 million for Restoration Strategies, $202.1 million for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), $73.3 million for the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, $64.0 million for the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, and $65.0 million for Phase II of the C-51 Reservoir.  Federal stimulus funding (State Fiscal Recovery Fund) provides $100.0 million for projects designed to achieve the greatest reductions in harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries.  The Governor vetoed another $350.0 million appropriation of state funds for the same purpose.

Wastewater Grant Program – $125.0 million in state funds is provided for grants for projects that retrofit septic systems to upgrade to enhanced nutrient-reducing onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, advanced waste treatment facilities projects, and septic-to-sewer conversions.  

Other Water Quality Funding – 

• Total Maximum Daily Loads ($50.0 million) – Accelerate projects to meet nutrient reduction goals.
• Targeted Wastewater and Stormwater Projects ($68.0 million) – Projects in the Indian River Lagoon, Springs Coast Watershed, and the Caloosahatchee and Peace River Basins.
• Biscayne Bay ($20.0 million) - Projects that address water quality impairments and coral reef restoration.
• Septic Incentive Program ($10.0 million) - Incentivize homeowners in Priority Focus Areas to upgrade their septic system to include nitrogen-reducing enhancements.

Local Water Projects – The budget contained 243 local water projects worth $368.4 million requested by legislators—more than triple last year’s record dollar amount. (See Florida TaxWatch’s 2022 Budget Turkey Watch Report).  Governor DeSantis vetoed 55 of the projects, worth $82.5 million.

Resilient Florida Program – $270.9 million in state funds is provided for projects in the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resiliency Plan.  Another $200.0 million in federal fiscal recovery funds is provided for these projects and the Resilient Florida Grant Program.

Springs Restoration receives $75.0 million. This funding may be used for land acquisition to protect springs and for projects that protect the quality and quantity of water that flow from springs.

Beach Restoration receives $50.0 million for projects in the comprehensive long-term beach management plan, projects on annual ranked lists, storm repair projects, or projects on lands managed by the state.  Another $30.0 million is provided for beach projects in state parks.

State Parks – The state park beach funding is part of record funding of $264.6 million for park improvements.  This includes $130.5 million to address the backlog of repair and renovation projects and $86.1 million for new park development projects (at existing parks).

Florida Forever and Other Land Acquisition – Florida’s land acquisition program is provided $100.0 million to acquire environmentally sensitive lands.  Another $300.0 million in State Fiscal Recovery Funds is for the acquisition of lands in fee simple or conservation easements to protect natural and rural landscapes, with a priority on protecting wildlife corridors.  Two very large member projects are also funded with federal funds, acquisition of the Green Heart of the Everglades ($35.0 million) and Rattlesnake Key ($23.0 million).

Manatee Rescue and Mortality Response – A record $30.2 million is provided to protect Florida’s official state marine mammal in the wake of an alarming death rate. This includes $24.7 million to enhance, expand, and support the network of manatee acute care facilities; restore access to springs; provide habitat restoration in manatee concentrated areas; expand manatee rescue and recovery efforts; and implement pilot projects like the supplemental feeding trials that took place this past winter. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is provided $5.5 million and 12 new positions to expand manatee mortality and response efforts, including aerial surveys. 

Citrus Research and Recovery - $16.6 million and five positions for citrus protection and research and $13.0 million for the Citrus Recovery Program.

Wildfire Suppression and Land Management – The budget includes $93.8 million for emergency wildfire management, $57.7 million to replace equipment for fire suppression, $9.0 million for repair and maintenance of forestry facilities, and $8.0 million for climate adaption and mitigation.

Support for Food Banks/Feeding Programs - Farm Share ($5.0 million), Feeding Florida ($3.0 million), emergency feeding organizations ($8.4 million), and various food banks ($5.5 million).

Transportation & Economic Development Budget Highlights

General Government Budget Highlights

State Employee Pay Raises – The budget includes a 5.38 percent across-the-board state employee pay raise and a $15 per hour minimum wage for state employees and many contracted services providers. In addition to the across-the-board increase, targeted pay hikes were provided to various state employee positions, including law enforcement and correctional officers, firefighters, veteran home nurses, and assistant public defenders and state attorneys.

Cybersecurity – The budget invests more than $334 million in various state agencies and partners for security intelligence, modernization, and resiliency. This includes training for state and local employees, a local cybersecurity grant program, security and risk assessments, and migration of aging systems to secure cloud environments.

PALM Accounting System – $44.6 million to continue the replacement of the Florida Accounting Information Resource System (FLAIR) with the Planning, Accounting, and Ledger Management (PALM) system.

Department of State Grant Programs – After deducting vetoes of $10.5 million, funding was provided for Cultural and Museum Grants ($46.5 million), Cultural Facilities ($3.5 million), Library Grants ($21.5 million), Historic Preservation Grants ($2.4 million), and Acquisition and Restoration of Historic Property ($27.5 million).  

Trust Fund Sweeps

Total Net Appropriations for FY2022-23

General Appropriations Act (HB 5001): $112.071 b

“Back of the Bill”:  $0.022 b

General Bills: $0.168 b

(Less) Governor’s Vetoes:* $(2.072 b)

Total FY2022-23 Appropriations: $110.189 billion

* Not all of the Governor’s $3.132 billion in vetoes reduce the $112.071 billion total of the GAA.  For example, the $1.0 billion he vetoed for the new Inflation Fund was not included in the GAA total.

Appropriations in the 2022 GAA for FY2021-22

Largely unnoticed, it is common for the “back of the bill” of the General Appropriations Act to appropriate millions of dollars for the current fiscal year—not the upcoming one. Due largely to federal pandemic relief aid, $5.6 billion was appropriated for FY2021-22, although most of it will be spent in FY2022-23.  This is much more than normal, but far less than the $15.1 billion in additional current year spending appropriated last year. This current year spending is not included in the $110.189 billion GAA budget total.  This year, these appropriations are:

ARP – American Rescue Plan; CRRSA – Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act; CCDBG – Child Care Development Block Grant

Note: The appropriations listed above do not include FY2022-23 reappropriations of unspent FY2021-22 appropriations that revert on June 30, 2022.  There are many of these reappropriations in the back of the bill, along with unspent reversions that are not reappropriated, which add to available revenue. Figures may not add exactly due to rounding.

FY2022-23 Appropriations in General Bills

HB 5 – Creating additional fetal and infant mortality review committees.

Dept. of Health - $1,602,000 (GR) (recurring)

HB 543 – Uterine fibroid research database (includes one new position).

Dept. of Health - $802,900 (GR) ($121,852 is recurring)

HB 749 – Implement the electronic insurance verification system.

Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles - $1,413,270 (TF) (nonrecurring)

HB 1349 – Guardianship data transparency – Justice Administration Commission - $2,400,000 (GR).  Dept. of Elder Affairs - $340,000 (GR)

SB 70 – Claims bill – Relief of Donna Catalano. 

Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services - $3,175,000 (TF)

SB 80 - Claims bill – Relief of Christeia Jones. 

Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles - $7,500,000 (TF)

SB 226 – Care for Retired Police Dogs Program.

Dept. of Law Enforcement - $300,000 (GR) (recurring)

SB 1712 – Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program.

Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs - $500,000 (GR) (recurring)

SB 2D (Special Session D) – My Safe Florida Home Program – hurricane mitigation inspections and grants for retrofitting homes.

Department of Financial Services - $150,000,000 (GR) (non-recurring).  This bill also authorizes up to $2 billion in GR to reimburse insurance companies for hurricane losses, if needed.

One of the numerous federal laws providing aid to states in the wake of the pandemic is the American Rescue Plan’s Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.  The Fund allocated $8.8 billion to Florida’s state government and $7.1 billion more to local governments.  Last year, the Legislature appropriated $5.3 billion of the state share (net of vetoes).  The 2022 Legislature appropriated the remaining $3.5 billion in the “back of the bill” in the General Appropriations Act.  It is technically appropriated for FY2021-22, so it is not included in the budget total.  On June 30, 2022, unspent funds will revert and be reappropriated for FY2022-23.  The Governor vetoed three college and university construction projects.  That $37.1 million will remain in the General Revenue Fund.  This is where the federal dollars are going:

Public Education Capital Outlay

Deferred Building Maintenance Program - $843.7 million

• Florida College System institutions
• State University System

Construction Projects - $622.5 million

• Florida College System institutions
• State University System
• K-12 Public Schools
• Workforce Education

Broadband Opportunity Program - $400.0 million

• Expand broadband Internet service to unserved areas of the state. 

Land Acquisition - $358.0 million

• Conservation easements to protect natural and rural landscapes - $300 million. Priority shall be lands that preserve, protect, or enhance wildlife habitats or corridors and linkages or agricultural or rural lands. 
• Green Heart of the Everglades – $35 million (Member Appropriation Project Request)
• Acquire 11,000 environmentally sensitive acres that are hydrologically linked to the Everglades 
• Rattlesnake Key Recreational Park - $23.0 million (Member Appropriation Project Request)

Local Support Grants - $205.0 million

• First Responder Bonuses - Up to $125.0 million will be used for one-time recognition payments of $1,000, after taxes, for each essential first responder employed by the local government as a sworn law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, firefighter, or paramedic. 
• Local Member Projects - The remaining money (at least $80.0 million) will be used to allow legislators to request grants for local governments, education entities, or privately-operated programs to support local initiatives. The Legislative Budget Commission will develop a process for members to request Local Support Grants. 

Florida Motor Fuel Tax Relief - $200.0 million

• The money will be used to offset transportation revenue losses from the one-month gas tax holiday passed by the 2022 legislature (HB 7071). 

Resilient Florida Grant Program - $200.0 million

• Up to $20.0 million will be used for grants to counties, municipalities, water management districts, flood control districts, and regional resilience entities to address the impacts of flooding and sea level rise.  The remaining funds are for projects included in the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan.

Workforce Information System - $150.0 million

• Provided to the Department of Economic Opportunity for the Consumer-First Workforce Information System project. This follows a $100.0 million appropriation of federal fiscal recovery funds last year.

Capitol Complex Renovations and Repairs - $115.0 million

• Replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, windows, and related repairs of the State Capitol Complex.

Water Quality Improvements – Everglades Restoration - $100.0 million 

• Part of the almost $900 million in funding for the Everglades provided by the 2022 Legislature, these funds are for the design, engineering, and construction of projects designed to achieve the greatest reductions in harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries as identified in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

State Emergency Operations Center - $80.0 million

• Construction of a new State Emergency Operations Center in Leon County, to be managed by the Department of Management Services. The 2021 Legislature also appropriated $100 million for this project.

County Transportation Projects - $50.0 million

• Small County Outreach Program - $30.0 million
• Small County Road Assistance Program - $20.0 million

Florida Job Growth Grant Fund - $50.0 million

• The Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Projects are selected by the Governor, who recommended $100 million for the grants.  

African-American Cultural And Historical Grants - $30.4 million

• This will fund approved projects on the Department of State’s ranked list. 

 Rural Infrastructure Fund - $25.0 million

• The Department of Economic Opportunity will use these funds for rural infrastructure projects pursuant to section 288.0655, Florida Statutes.

State Artifact Facility - $13.8 million 

• For the design and construction of an artifact curation facility in the Department of State.

Derelict Vessel Removal Program - $11.7 million

• Following legislation from 2021 to strengthen the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program, the 2022 Legislature added this funding to the $8.2 million already in the GAA.

Cultural Facilities Grants - $10.0 million

• Funds the Department of State’s recommended 2022-2023 Cultural Facilities Grants list.

Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Aircraft - $5.0 million

• The funds will be used by the Commission for aircraft acquisition, fuel, and maintenance.

Growth in Florida's State Budget

Educational Enhancement Trust Fund

* 2021-22 and 2022-23 revenues are estimated

Historical State Employee FTEs

Historical Appropriations by Area

Historical Appropriations by Funding Source

Historical Appropriations by Type

Note: Aid to Local Governments includes the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) and both local operations and local fixed capital outlay.

History of State Reserves

* The Chiles Endowment Fund was eliminated by the 2021 Legislature and its balance was transferred to the Budget Stabilzation Fund. The 2022 Legislature created the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund (EPRF) with an initial balance of $500 million.

**GR reserves are amount estimated at time of budget passage plus GR vetoes, based on the last GR estimate (January 2022).

FEFP Funding Per Student