2017-18 state budget – Page 4

Bill Montford complains about school spending during scholarships debate

Published on May 5, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

The Senate’s leading education expert unloaded Friday on spending levels for schools contemplated in the Legislature’s compromise $83 billion state budget. During debate on extending Florida’s corporate tax exemption scholarship program, Sen. Bill Montford complained that base spending per student would decline in the public schools next fiscal year, notwithstanding a modest increase in the school budget. “In the budget that you’re going to look at Monday,” he said, “the basic student allocation next year will be $27 less than it…

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Appropriations chiefs declare budget talks ‘closed’ — but with an asterisk

Published on May 4, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

House and Senate budget negotiators traded final offers Thursday and pronounced their work done, bar some last-minute tidying up. “The budget is closed,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Lavala said. “We’ve got a couple of question marks, but this is not an opportunity to entertain any new issues. We’re going to resolve one or two issues, and then we’re going to come back together and get those solved,” he said. “The cupboard is bare.” Left to do is reconcile conforming bills…

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Against criticism by governor, Joe Negron makes the case for budget deal

Published on May 3, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

Faced with the prospect of a gubernatorial budget veto, Senate President Joe Negron said Wednesday that he hopes it doesn’t come to that. “I hope the governor doesn’t veto the budget, because I think it’s a strong budget. He certainly has every right to look at particular items,” Negron told reporters following the day’s Senate session. Scott noted earlier in the day that he has the authority to veto the $83 billion budget in whole or in part, although he…

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Final $83 billion budget bill awaits only fine tuning, conferees report

Published on May 3, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

The House and Senate were tantalizingly close Wednesday to completing negotiations on an $83 billion state budget. It appeared only a question of firming up some details and completing the paperwork. “There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into preparing the document and getting it distributed and printed and whatever. But the major points are decided,” Senate budget chief Jack Latvala said following a noon meeting with his House counterpart, Carlos Trujillo. What’s left? “Mostly the HHS budget, and…

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Agency for State Technology reorganization plan moves forward

Published on May 3, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Staff Reports

The House on Wednesday accepted the Senate’s budget language to reorganize the Agency for State Technology. “The House initially pushed for a complete overhaul of the state’s IT services, which included replacing the agency, but late in the budget negotiations a deal to keep the agency while making changes emerged,” Legislative IQ powered by LobbyTools reported. Proviso language includes the appointment of a “chief data officer.” Jason Allison resigned as head of the agency and the state’s Chief Information Officer in February. He…

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Legislative Session will extend through Monday

Published on May 3, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

House Speaker Richard Corcoran told members at the beginning of Monday’s floor session that both chambers have reached agreement on a final 2017-18 state budget. Corcoran said the Legislature will take the weekend off and reconvene Monday at 1 p.m. to consider the budget and vote. That contrasts with the speaker’s comment to reporters Tuesday that he was “90 percent” sure the session would end on time, which would have been this Friday. The announcement also means that millions of…

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Joe Negron acknowledges the Legislative Session will enter extra innings

Published on May 2, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

Senate President Joe Negron conceded the obvious Tuesday night: The House and Senate won’t wrap up budget negotiations in time to adjourn as scheduled on Friday. “You know the timetable as well as I do, with the 72-hour requirement. So we will definitely not complete the budget work prior to the end of Friday, and so we’ll continue to work diligently,” Negron told reporters after the Senate recessed for the evening. “We made a lot of progress today in a…

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Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

2017-18 state budget - page 4

Bill Montford complains about school spending during scholarships debate

Appropriations chiefs declare budget talks ‘closed’ — but with an asterisk

Against criticism by governor, Joe Negron makes the case for budget deal

Final $83 billion budget bill awaits only fine tuning, conferees report

Agency for State Technology reorganization plan moves forward

Legislative Session will extend through Monday

Joe Negron acknowledges the Legislative Session will enter extra innings

2017-18 state budget - page 4

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