TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Lawmakers across the state will be in Tallahassee for the final day of state legislative assembly on Friday.
It is not expected that the budget will be passed ahead of the deadline. As the session ends, Senate and House leaders struggle to make eye contact within budget.
They must pass the budget before the fiscal year begins in July.
This year’s legislative meeting has concluded, with many bills reaching the finish line. Lawmakers said the biggest issue with agreeing to the budget is tax cuts.
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“I think the Senate wants to continue and build on what we did. That doesn’t mean you need to agree to everything they did. I don’t necessarily agree with everything they did,” Gov. DeSantis said. “I think Florida has been successful in their position. ‘Let’s solidify success. Let’s build it up.’ That’s my basic position. I think the home position is everything he aims for, as the governor has got everything he wants. ”
The Senate wants to permanently eliminate sales tax on shoes and clothing under $75. In the House, members have proposed reducing Florida’s overall sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%.
The goal is to save billions of people in Florida each year, but despite the long discussion, leaders still couldn’t fill the gap.
“At the end of the day, I’m just uncomfortable with the proposal that appears to be likely to lead to a shortage in an out-year period, if not a significant shortage,” Senator Ben Albritton said.
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“As negotiations progressed, the Senate continued to provide greater spending than they had passed from their floors. We moved a billion dollars towards them, and they refused to move us a penny,” said House Speaker Daniel Perez.
Even if the budget has not been passed, the session will end on Friday.
Experts wonder whether lawmakers will address the issues that plague many Floridians.
“Instead, they’re working on the tax cuts and sales tax debate. They’re all important, but perhaps for Florida voters, it’s not as important as the home insurance and condo crisis, health care, education, and more,” Tara Newsom said.
Leaders have options. They can extend the current session for a week or have special sessions to pass the budget back in the summer.
