TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Lawmakers finally wrap up the 2025 legislative meeting after passing a $115 billion state budget.
Leadership said the budget will pay off state debt, reduce per capita spending and reduce state government growth. It also adds sales taxes to return to school repeatedly in August each year, taking into account a wide range of tax easing, including eliminating sales taxes on hurricane preparations.
“It’s no longer a public holiday, it’s a recurring tax cut and it’s going to happen every year, whether Congress votes for it or not,” said House Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami).
But not everyone sees the tax relief package as an overall victory. State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) said there are both negative and positive aspects of the tax package.
“Looking at this sales tax cut, it’s actually pretty much included in Florida’s pockets, but it’s an astronomical effect on the state’s budget,” Driskel said.
“I don’t see this as a failure on Day 105. I think we’ve been digging deep and having a lot of conversations about government efficiency. That’s what the speaker and I wanted.”
Desantis has around two weeks to sign the budget and issue a veto by July 1st, the start of the new fiscal year.
