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(Marco Island, Fla) - Governor Ron DeSantis' proposed 2024 budget totals more than $114 billion which includes a surplus of $16 billion.
He outlined today how he will save the state money while giving Floridians a billion dollars in tax relief.
During a press conference this morning from Marco Island, the governor said next year's budget will "reduce debt by cutting government and will offer tax breaks on necessities like all baby items and over the counter pet medication."
Also, DeSantis announced income tax relief for homeowners struggling with the high cost of property insurance.
DeSantis says he will save the state money by making government smaller. Over 1,000 positions will be eliminated throughout the state government to “help us realign resources to focus on efficiency,” the governor said.
And while this year's "Focus on Florida's Future" budget is $2 billion less than last year's, it spends more money on education.
He announced $27.8 billion, "the highest amount of funding ever for K-12 schooling."
Also, he promised $1.25 billion would go exclusively toward teacher salary increases, which is a $200 million increase over the current budget.
The governor says he is leaving “the state is in really good fiscal shape” because he has cut taxes every year since he has been governor and paid off 25% of the state’s total accumulated debt.