Florida budget – Page 2 – SaintPetersBlog

House prepares for vote on state’s $82 billion budget

Published on March 10, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

The Florida House rallied behind the Legislature’s proposed budget Thursday, teeing up the $82.3 billion spending plan up for a vote later this week. State lawmakers debated the budget, shrugging off a structured debate format that has been used in recent years. The reason? Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle appeared to support the budget. “I think we need to notice this historic moment,” said Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, a Tallahassee Democrat. “I have a feeling we’re going to…

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Budget stalemate finally ends for Florida Legislature

Published on June 16, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Gary Fineout

Florida’s contentious and messy budget stalemate that divided the state’s Republicans and threatened to force the shutdown of state government is finally over. With just days left, the Florida Legislature has reached a deal on a nearly $79 billion budget. The final budget was delivered to legislators late Tuesday afternoon. The budget has winners and losers in the mix as the GOP legislative leaders battled for months over healthcare spending, tax cuts and how much money should be set aside…

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Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri writes letter in support of open-bid for upgraded LEO radio system

Published on June 8, 2015 in Top Headlines by Peter Schorsch

As the Florida Legislature grapples with finalizing a budget, there is another funding debate happening besides just the future of indigent health care in the state. Lawmakers have proposed $1 million to open a competitive bid process next year for the state’s Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS). Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott last week supporting moving forward with the bid process. Since mid-2000s agencies, including PCSO, have upgraded to the “next generation technology,”…

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