Miami
DeSantis opposes budget amendment backed by the Florida Republican Party
The Governor broke with his state party over Amendment 1, which would raise the cap on Florida’s budget stabilization fund. The measure would need 60% support to take effect.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is at odds with the Republican Party of Florida over Amendment 1, a proposal that would raise the amount allowed in the state’s budget stabilization fund to 25%, according to Florida Politics.
The outlet reported that the state party announced its support for the measure on Monday, but DeSantis soon took the opposite view and argued it was an unwise constitutional proposal. He said Florida already has a fully funded rainy-day reserve and has posted the largest surpluses in state history.
According to Florida Politics, DeSantis said any additional revenue should instead go toward tax relief. He pointed to grants for local governments so homestead properties could be exempt from local property taxes, and added that surplus revenue could later be used to eliminate tolls once the property tax issue is addressed.
That position conflicts with party chair Evan Power, who defended Amendment 1 as a way to keep Florida ready for storms, emergencies and economic downturns without raising taxes, Florida Politics reported.
The outlet also noted that DeSantis and the state party are aligned on Amendment 3, which would increase the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028.
Florida Politics said the reserve-fund amendment moved through the Legislature by joint resolution, HJR 5019, a process that does not require the Governor’s signature or veto the way most bills do. The measure must win 60% support to become law.
The dispute fits into a broader pattern of friction between DeSantis and the state party, according to Florida Politics. The outlet recalled the Governor’s complaints during the primary about the lack of gubernatorial debates. It also reported that after the primary DeSantis hosted a leadership forum with Byron Donalds, James Uthmeier, Blaise Ingoglia and Wilton Simpson, though even there the relationship with Power appeared strained.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
