Education Budget Highlights

The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) will provide $26.8 billion to school districts, an increase of $2.2 billion (9.0 percent). Most of this increase will be paid by higher local property taxes, which will rise by $1.3 billion (11.8 percent). The Legislature did not roll back the school millage rate, so the significant rise in property values will result in bigger tax bills. The $12.3 billion in local funding is not included in budget totals.

Per-Student FEFP Funding of $8,648 is an increase of $405 per student (4.9 percent). There are 177,372 more students expected in public schools. The base student allocation (flexible funding) will increase by $552 per student (12.0 percent).

Teacher Compensation – The Teacher Salary Increase Allocation was increased from $800 million to just over $1 billion. Districts have flexibility in spending their allocation and can provide raises to new and veteran teachers and other instructional personnel.

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

Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program – The Legislature created this program to maintain the stability of public schools and protect districts from financial instability as a result of changes in student enrollment throughout the school year. The program was funded with $350 million.

Workforce Education – Public school workforce education programs received a $52.9 million increase over last year’s funding level. Funding includes $125 million for nursing education, incentive funds for technical education and industry certificates, and $20 million for the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program for apprenticeships.

Early Learning – The Legislature used savings from fewer students in the Voluntary Pre-K program to increase the base student allocation ($20.0 million). The School Readiness Program received a $100.0 million increase to add student slots and increase provider reimbursements. Another $315 million in federal funds (American Rescue Plan) was appropriated to implement a discretionary grant program for Early Learning Coalitions and School Readiness Providers. Grants can be used for a wide array of needs, including childcare, training, mental health, equipment and supplies, and pilot programs to improve kindergarten readiness.

State Colleges received a $200 million increase in total state funding for operational support, dual enrollment tuition and fee reimbursements, and Student Success Incentive funds.

State Universities - What looks like a big cut in university funding (see above) is due to the Legislature not counting the almost $2 billion in tuition revenue as an appropriation, which they normally include. Instead of a cut, universities received a more than $700 million increase in GR and lottery funding. This includes an increase of $85 million in performance funding, $100 million for the recruitment and retention of faculty, $10 million for Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education (UF), and $25 million to restructure New College.

School Safety – In addition to the increased FEFP allocation, HB 543 appropriated $57 million for school hardening grants and a safe school technology program.

Maintenance – All state funds for maintenance went to charter schools ($213.5 million). Traditional public schools, colleges, and universities receive no maintenance funding.

Construction Projects – The budget funds projects for colleges ($218.7 million), universities ($682.2 million), and developmental research (Lab) schools ($10.1 million). Another $88.6 million goes for new public schools in Gadsden, Glades, and Putnam counties.

Human Services Budget Highlights

Criminal Justice Budget Highlights

Correctional Staff – In addition to the five percent across the board pay increase, the starting salary for correctional officers was increased to $22/hour (approx. $45,000/year), bonuses for high vacancy facilities were funded, and raises were provided for educational and maintenance staff.

Inmate Welfare – $35 million and 215 positions were provided to expand educational, career and technical education programs. Another $29.5 million is provided to offer inmates improved and increased access to substance abuse and mental health programs, wellness activities, and a phone call savings pilot program.

Correctional Facility Safety - The budget includes $21.3 million for security equipment, such as drone detection equipment, thermal fence cameras, drone support for K-9 operations, and license plate readers. There is also $2.3 million to modernize and enhance training provided at the Florida Corrections Academy and $9 million to improve infrastructure.

Juvenile Justice – SB 7104 appropriated $12 million to establish the Florida Scholars Academy to provide juvenile offenders with greater access to secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities, including trade skills in high-demand occupations. Contracted direct care and support staff at secure and non-secure residential facilities will see pay increases, as well as staff who conduct mental and physical intake evaluations for juveniles committed to residential facilities ($24.6 million).

Opioid Epidemic - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will distribute $20 million to local law enforcement agencies for the creation of the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) in Florida Program. FDLE will also expand the mission and capabilities of the statewide Anti-Heroin Task Force ($0.7 million).

Law Enforcement Pay and Recruitment – There will be a second round of 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.

First Responders – Up to $110 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.

Drone Replacement Grant Program – A drone replacement grant program ($25.0 million) is created within FDLE to assist local law enforcement agencies with replacing drone technology in compliance with statutory changes.

Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant -The budget provides $5 million to FDLE to award grants to non-profit organizations and community-based partnerships that serve communities disproportionately impacted by violence to implement or expand violence reduction programs.

Judicial Branch Budget Highlights

Environment Budget Highlights

Everglades Restoration – The budget invests nearly $700 million for Everglades restoration. This includes $58.0 million for Restoration Strategies, $356.5 million for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), $86.1 million for the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, $70.0 million for the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, and $50 million for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project.

Wastewater Grant Program – $200.0 million to expanded Water Quality Improvement Grant Program for projects to construct, upgrade or expand wastewater facilities, including septic to sewer conversions, stormwater projects, and agricultural nutrient reduction projects.

Other Water Quality Funding – 

• Total Maximum Daily Loads ($40.0 million) – Accelerate projects to meet nutrient reduction goals.
• Indian River Lagoon Protection Program ($100.0 million) – Priority projects to address excess nutrients entering the waterway and improve water quality in the lagoon.
• Biscayne Bay ($20.0 million) - Projects that address water quality impairments and coral reef restoration.
• Target Wastewater and Stormwater Projects ($58.0 million) -Projects in the Caloosahatchee watershed, the Northwest and St. Johns River Water Management Districts, Apopka, and the Florida Keys.

Local Water Projects – The budget contained 268 local water projects worth a record $433.0 million requested by legislators. The amount spent on these projects has been skyrocketing, and Florida TaxWatch has recommended reform of this process—warning that they bypass the many competitive grant processes that exist for such projects. (See Florida TaxWatch’s 2023 Budget Turkey Watch Report). Governor DeSantis vetoed 43 of the projects, worth $34.7 million.

Resilient Florida Program – $300.0 million in state funds is provided for projects in the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resiliency Plan to fund the ranked lists. There is also $20 million for Resilient Florida planning grants.

Springs Restoration receives $50.0 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 $16.0 million is provided for beach erosion projects related to damages from Hurricane Ian and Nicole. 

Waste Cleanup Programs - A total of $299.0 million is provided for these programs, including cleanup of contaminated petroleum sites ($195.0 million), the remediation and closure of Piney Point ($85.0 million), dry cleaning site cleanup ($10.0 million), and hazardous waste site cleanup ($6.0 million).

State Parks – Florida’s state parks will receive $37 million for park facility improvements.

Florida Forever and Other Land Acquisition – Florida will spend $850 million in GR to acquire lands within the state’s Wildlife Corridor. The corridor is 18 million acres, 10 million of which are protected, allowing for migration of Florida wildlife. This appropriation will allow for the acquisition of the Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Land Acquisition Project, and the acquisition of lands within the Ocala to Osceola corridor. Another $100 million is provided to Florida Forever to acquire environmentally sensitive lands and $15 million to the Florida Communities Trust, which provides funding to local governments and eligible non-profit environmental organizations for the acquisition of community-based parks, open space, and greenways that further outdoor recreation and natural resource protection needs.

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. 

Coral Reefs - The budget includes $21.7 million for coral reef protection. Part of the funding will be used to implement Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative to restore 25 percent of Florida’s Coral Reef by2050.

Citrus Research and Recovery - The budget provides $6.4 million to continue funding for the Citrus Health Response Program, $38 million for citrus research and field trials, and $4.0 million for citrus crop decline supplemental funding.

Apalachicola Bay Oyster Restoration - The state’s ongoing oyster restoration operation in Apalachicola Bay is appropriated $17.0 million. It is expected this will double the supported acreage from 1,000 to 2,000 acres of durable oyster habitat.

Red Tide - $14.6 million for grants to local governments to respond to red tide cleanup and continuation funding for the Center for Red Tide Research in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Wildfire Suppression and Land Management – The budget includes $11.5 million to replace equipment for fire suppression, including two aircraft. Another $4.9 million for road and bridge maintenance will allow for better access for land management and wildfire suppression activities.

Support for Food Banks/Feeding Programs - Farm Share ($9.0 million), Feeding Florida ($6.5 million), emergency feeding organizations ($8.4 million), and various food banks ($1.4 million).

Transportation & Economic Development Budget Highlights

General Government Budget Highlights

State Employee Pay Raises – The Legislature continued  to share some of the state’s windfall revenue with state employees. The $619.3 million provided in the budget includes a 5.0 percent across-the-board state employee pay raise and additional targeted increases for some, including correctional staff, assistant state attorneys, assistant public defenders, conflict counsel attorneys, and administrative hearing judges.  Another $96.4 million will be distributed to all agencies to grant special pay adjustments to address pay plan compensation,                recruitment, and retention issues.

Florida Retirement System - The budget fully funds the Unfunded Actuarial Liability and increases the employer contribution by two percent (on top of three percent last year). The Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) was expanded, the required length of service for special risk employees was reduced, and the Health Insurance Subsidy for retirees was increased. This carries a total price tag of $147.9 million.

Hurricane Recovery - The Legislature funded a Hurricane Recovery Grant Program with $350 million in GR.  Local governments impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole may apply for grants that can be used for revenue losses and operating deficits; infrastructure repair and replacement, including road, sewer, and water facilities; beach renourishment; and debris removal. The budget also includes $472.5 million for the state match for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements and $362.6 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding for local hurricane recovery and hardening efforts.

Cybersecurity – The budget invests $60 million to enhance state agencies’ security intelligence, modernization, and resiliency. There is also $40 million for the Local Government Cybersecurity Grant Program.

PALM Accounting System – $62.6 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 $8.2 million, funding was provided for Cultural and Museum Grants ($56.2 million), Cultural Facilities ($3.5 million), Library Grants ($29.3 million), Historic Preservation Grants ($3.2 million), and Acquisition and Restoration of Historic Property ($53.9 million).  

Transport of Unauthorized Aliens - SB 1718 appropriated $12 million for the Governor’s Unauthorized Alien Transport Program to deliver unauthorized immigrants to other states.

State Debt Reduction – The budget provides $200 million to retire outstanding state debt ahead of schedule.

My Safe Florida Home – This grant program, which provides eligible Florida homeowners free home inspections and financial assistance to retrofit their properties to be less vulnerable              hurricane damage, was funded with $100 million.

Trust Fund Sweeps

                  Regulatory Trust Fund                                 $10,000,000

Department of Health

                   Grant and Donations Trust Fund              $25,000,000

                   Medical Quality Assurance Trust Fund    $10,000,000

Total                                                                                  $45,000,000

Total Net Appropriations for FY2023-24

General Appropriations Act (SB 2500): $117.027 b

“Back of the Bill”:  $0.679 b

General Bills: $1.481 b 

(Less) Governor’s Vetoes: $(0.511 b)

Total FY2023-24 Appropriations: $118.676 b

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.

Growth in Florida's State Budget

Educational Enhancement Trust Fund

* 2022-23 and 2023-24 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.

FEFP Funding By Source

FEFP Funding Per Student