Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Governor DeSantis’ Budget Vetoes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thurs., June 15, 2023
CONTACT: Aly Coleman Raschid, aly@on3pr.com, 850.391.5040
Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Governor DeSantis’ Budget Vetoes
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement in response to Governor Ron DeSantis announcing $510.9 million in vetoes for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 state budget.
“Florida TaxWatch commends Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, House Speaker Paul Renner, and the Florida Legislature for the $116.5 billion Fiscal Year 2023-24 state budget, which includes unprecedented investments in critical needs, particularly environmental protection, as well as record tax relief for hard-working families.
“As a trusted government watchdog for over four decades, Florida TaxWatch also praises Governor DeSantis for his careful review of all projects in the proposed budget, which resulted in $510.9 million in vetoes. While our recommendation was only that he provide ‘special scrutiny’ to the 218 projects that we identified as Budget Turkeys – individual appropriations that circumvented a transparent and accountable budget process – he vetoed 68 of them, worth $82.6 million. The Governor also vetoed $172.5 million of the $1.2 billion in member projects that Florida TaxWatch flagged for additional consideration because there is not a formal selection process for them and/or they do not serve a statewide purpose or align with a core function of state government.
“These strategic vetoes and the final budget are a reflection of Governor DeSantis’ responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and his commitment to Florida’s continued economic success.”
To access Florida TaxWatch’s 2023 Budget Turkey Watch Report, please click here.
Florida TaxWatch will also be releasing the 2022-23 Budget Guide soon, and it will be made available here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for more than forty years and the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on citizens and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.
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