TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed Florida’s $117.6 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year after vetoing nearly $800 million in spending, calling the final package another step in maintaining the state’s fiscal strength as he enters the final months of his administration.
The budget, which takes effect July 1, represents the fourth consecutive year Florida has reduced overall spending following record budgets fueled by federal pandemic relief. DeSantis said the state is well positioned financially thanks to debt reduction, reserve funding and restrained spending.
“We should be thankful that we’re run in a successful way and really set up for whatever happens in the future,” DeSantis said during a bill-signing event in Tampa.
The Governor signed the budget at Hillsborough Community College, highlighting a $50 million appropriation for infrastructure improvements as local officials continue exploring the campus as a potential site for a future Tampa Bay Rays stadium.
Nearly $800 Million Cut Through Line-Item Vetoes
DeSantis used his constitutional line-item veto authority to eliminate approximately $800 million from the budget approved by the Florida Legislature.
Among the most significant vetoes were more than $135 million affecting the Florida Department of Corrections, including funding for prison infrastructure improvements, maintenance projects and construction of a proposed prison hospital.
The Governor also vetoed $50 million in bonding that lawmakers approved to begin construction of the hospital, arguing the state should avoid taking on additional debt.
“We cannot reduce debt with one hand while adding debt with another,” DeSantis wrote in his veto message.
Correctional Officer Pay Raises Also Vetoed
The Governor also vetoed legislation that would have increased starting pay for correctional officers to $24 per hour.
DeSantis said he supported higher salaries for correctional officers but argued lawmakers improperly tied the raises to financing for the prison hospital project.
Correctional officers’ union leaders criticized the decision, warning that staffing shortages remain a major challenge throughout Florida’s prison system.
The Florida Police Benevolent Association said correctional officers became casualties of a broader budget dispute between the executive and legislative branches.
Funding Preserved for Health Care and Artificial Intelligence
Despite the vetoes, DeSantis approved several high-profile initiatives.
The budget provides $75 million for Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, ensuring continued access to medications for thousands of low-income Floridians living with HIV.
Lawmakers also required a comprehensive review of the program following earlier concerns over proposed funding reductions.
The Governor also approved:
- $4 million for an artificial intelligence system designed to improve eligibility determinations for Florida’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- $4 million for an artificial intelligence pilot program within the Florida Department of Corrections that could include advanced security technologies.
Fiscal Legacy Ahead of 2027 Transition
Because of term limits, DeSantis will leave office in January 2027, making the implementation of the new budget a key issue in the race to succeed him. Read more in our Florida Elections 2026 coverage.
He pointed Monday to several accomplishments he believes define his fiscal record, including paying down state debt, increasing reserve funds, reducing the size of government and lowering annual state spending following the pandemic-era budget surge.
“We’re leaving it better than we found it,” DeSantis said. “We’re stronger and fiscally responsible.”
Democratic leaders offered a different assessment, arguing the next governor could inherit significant financial challenges, including potential reductions in federal Medicaid funding and increased costs associated with Florida’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The budget also comes as voters prepare to decide a proposed constitutional amendment that would increase Florida’s homestead exemption to $250,000, a measure supporters say would provide tax relief while opponents warn could shift financial burdens onto local governments.
Related: Opposition Campaign Launches Against DeSantis-Backed Property Tax Amendment
Sources
- Florida Governor’s Office
- Florida General Appropriations Act (FY 2026-27)
- Governor’s Line-Item Veto List
- Florida Legislature
Florida’s new fiscal year begins July 1.
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