TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — With increasing indications of financial constraints from Washington, including potential reductions to Medicaid, SNAP, and FEMA, Florida lawmakers are bracing not only for state budget cuts but also for unpredictability in D.C.
The state depends on federal funding for nearly one-third of its budget, and any disruptions from Washington could have a cascading impact at the state level. Thus, the question arises: are lawmakers taking sufficient measures to safeguard Floridians from unforeseen events?
“I do not believe in raising taxes. We agree in the opposite. Cutting taxes, cutting spending, wasteful spending,” stated House Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami). “What we’re doing is, we are positioning the state so that, if we were to find ourselves in a recession, like the 2000s, we have a budget stabilization fund to backstop and protect Floridians from landing in an uncomfortable situation.”
Senate and House leadership say they are leaning on the budget stabilization fund, the state’s rainy day reserve, in case of a recession, rising costs, or federal pull-back.
“We’re doing things to make Florida’s balance sheet more durable and difficult times, and we’re setting more money aside to have as rainy-day reserves if things get difficult, that’s a win that’s a win,” said Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula).
But not everyone at the statehouse agrees that leadership’s strategy is hitting the right mark.
“You don’t get to talk about saving money for a rainy day when it’s still raining, when it’s already raining on the people of Florida,” said State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa).
House Minority Leader Driskell said we shouldn’t be cutting funding, we should be expanding the budget.
“It seems to me there’s a lot of hot air about this Budget Stabilization Fund. There’s a lot of hot air about saving money for a rainy day. But guess what? You only get to do that after you’ve met all of your other obligations,” said Driskell.
“The question is, do I believe this budget prepares Florida for what could be coming out of the DOGE cuts or just the changes that come out of Washington, D.C? And I would say yes,” said Senate President Albritton.
It’s now day 102 of the 60-day session, and Budget Chairs have been working all week, racing to finalize the final spending plan, which is now expected for a Monday vote.
