Florida Governor Ron DeSantis released his 2021-22 state budget recommendation late last month as required by law. His proposal calls for $96.6 billion in spending, an increase of $4.3 billion over the current year’s budget with $2.6 billion in additional funding going COVID-19 related expenses.
The Governor recommended a $7.6 million reduction to FAMU’s budget, against a total $22, 641,174 reduction across the entire 12 institution State University System of Florida.
There will be no tuition increases for Florida’s colleges and universities. According to DeSantis' budget website, it is imperative for students and families to not face any additional burdens during these difficult times.
The proposal was a departure from projections that the state could face a more than $2 billion budget shortfall because of the economic fallout of the pandemic. Legislative leaders have warned repeatedly that they expect to have to make budget cuts as they negotiate a spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
DeSantis’ proposal -- dubbed the “Florida Leads” budget -- is a starting point for the legislative deliberations, and it relies heavily on federal money that has flowed into the state to help deal with the pandemic. Also, it would bank on such things as increased property-tax revenues to boost education spending, long a controversial issue.
As recently as mid-January, House Appropriations Chairman Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, warned of looming budget cuts, including the possibility of education cuts. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, also has raised the possibility of moves such as increasing university tuition -- something not included in DeSantis’ proposal.
The Florida Legislative session begins March 2.