By: Editorial Board | Daytona Beach News-Journal
He’s focusing on issues that are pressing needs for the state
Gov. Ron DeSantis is getting high marks for his first budget proposal, a record $91.3 billion plan that includes more money for public education and a rollback in local school property taxes; funding for environmental cleanup in South Florida and beyond; money to boost recovery in storm-ravaged regions of the state and an honorable resolve to stop raiding trust funds intended to preserve environmentally sensitive land and promote affordable housing.
The governor and his staff know their work has only started: Every year, the governor makes spending recommendations to kick off the budgetary process, but the state Legislature holds the actual budget-writing authority. DeSantis’ predecessor, Rick Scott, butted heads with lawmakers over economic development funding and other issues — and watched many of his priorities wither quickly.
DeSantis is taking a different tack. He’s focusing on issues that most people would agree are pressing needs for the state. Among his initiatives:
- Environmental protection. The governor’s early, intense focus on water projects has been heartening — not just for the tree-hugging set, but for the tourism officials and communities hurt by recent, massive algae blooms and red tide. DeSantis tagged $625 million in environmental projects, much of which would be directed to projects around the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. However, he continues a $50 million appropriation for projects that help restore Florida’s springs, which should be another high-priority area. And he recommends full funding for Florida Forever, a voter-approved land-preservation fund that, in the past, has been raided to fund other projects.
- Mental health and substance abuse. DeSantis proposes a $30-million bump in the amount of money the state targets toward opioid abuse, to $84.6 million — amping up the response to an epidemic that claims 17 lives a day in Florida. He also wants a new focus on mental health for children and youth, supported by a $27.5 million increase in mental health spending and another $10 million allocated through schools.
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Education. The spending recommendations for preK-12 include a healthy increase in per-pupil classroom funding, as well as additional money for security. He also wants to replace the state’s flawed teacher-retention plan with a revamped, $423 million effort to recruit and keep teachers and administrators — with details coming later. And he recommends a responsible reduction in local school taxes, which the Legislature has used to shift the burden of public-school funding in the past. He also wants a boost in performance funding for universities and state colleges, without a tuition increase.
- Economy. Instead of flinging billions into incentives to lure companies to Florida (one of Scott’s least-appreciated priorities) DeSantis proposes focusing on the workers who provide the base for Florida’s service-based economy — starting with leaving $338 million in the state’s affordable-housing trust fund, which would break a decade-long practice of raiding it to fund other parts of the budget, and boosting transportation infrastructure.
It’s not hard to see why these recommendations are being so well-received. DeSantis deserves credit for a budget that elevates smart policy over partisan politics. It’s important to remember a few things, however.
A large amount of the praise stems from this fundamental dichotomy: Most people look at the budget one piece at a time. If there’s funding directed toward their particular priorities, they’re happy. But state leaders must consider it as a whole, along with the obvious, corresponding question — is there money to pay for it? There are warning signs that tighter times are coming.
State leaders must also keep in mind that many problems can’t be solved just by hurling money at them. Lawmakers and the governor should work together to make sure spending is targeted wisely. So far, DeSantis seems to get it. But now the real work starts.
Article last accessed here on February 5, 2019. A print-ready version is available here.