Florida TaxWatch’s The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s FY2025-26 State Budget explains the Legislature’s $114.8 billion spending plan (after $376 million in line-item vetoes)—a 3.2% decrease from FY2024-25—while maintaining $12.6 billion in reserves. General Revenue (GR) spending rises by $556 million, and the recurring GR base increases by $1.9 billion, even as total positions fall to 111,886 (-1,871).
The Guide highlights major taxpayer impacts: $2.1 billion in tax relief anchored by the final elimination of the Business Rent Tax (~$1.5 billion annual savings for Florida businesses) and a continued focus on debt reduction—$580 million this year plus a new $250 million/year Debt Reduction Program. It also flags the scale of member projects (~1,700, well over $2.5 billion) and the redirection of key environmental funding streams.
- Education: FEFP totals $29.5B; per-student rises to $9,130 (+$143). Local property taxes cover 71.4% of the increase (~$674M). New Academic Acceleration supplement: $596.7M. Teacher/Instructional compensation: $1.357B.
- Human Services: Medicaid/TANF appropriations at $36.1B with targeted rate increases; KidCare +$135.8M (209,438 kids). Health Care Innovation revolving loans: $50M. Expanded elder-care access and Alzheimer’s funding ($73.9M).
- Environment: Dedicated gaming-revenue stream for the Water Quality Improvement (WQI) program is eliminated; WQI funded at $436.5M but used entirely for 314 member projects. Everglades investment: $810.5M. Resilient Florida: $150M. Florida Forever: $18M; Rural & Family Lands: $250M.
- Transportation: DOT Work Program $13.7B (highways, bridges, resurfacing, transit, ports, aviation, trails). Local member transportation projects total $210.9M (41 vetoes, $38.9M).
- General Gov & Public Safety: State employee pay raise 2% (min $1,000). My Safe Florida Home $280M. Job Growth Grant Fund $50M. VISIT FLORIDA $80M. Judiciary gains 39 new judges; multiple justice/public-safety IT upgrades.
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