House Democrats on Thursday were quick to criticize the new budget, saying it did not adequately help Floridians with rising housing costs and noted that the budget is padded with federal funds from the Biden administration. The Governor doesnt like to mention this, but Floridas budget includes nearly $40 billion in federal money this year. DeSantis supportedwhat advocates call the putting parents first initiative, which would have takenmillions of dollars from some of the states biggest counties and send the money to Floridas 55 other counties that fell in line with the governor on mask policy. Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami appears to have lost out on more than $71 million with that decision. The Florida Freedom Budget directs DMS to ensure benefits currently under the various health insurance plans remain the same through June 30, 2023. The study compared employee health insurance costs, including insurance premiums and deductibles. It would take a pay increase of about $13,500/year or 45.8% to bring the buying power of the median state employee salary back to its 1987 level. 6. | Capital Bureau | USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA, GOP lawmaker aims to strip state funding from school districts that defied Gov. But lawmakers have reduced that amount, targeting $209.5 million for housing initiatives, but limiting rental assistance efforts to about $100 million, with another $100 million establishing a hometown heroes program helping first responders, teachers and nurses with down payment assistance. He is on my State Retirement health insurance plan. A South Florida native, he has a passion for political and accountability reporting. Over the last three years, we have worked hard to increase teacher pay, said Governor Ron DeSantis. This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office. I am proud to be an educator and we have certainly come a long way. Committee The Republican governor signed the budget legislation at an event in The Villages, the nations largest retirement community, where supporters packed out a recreation center and applauded as he highlighted his pandemic policies and spending priorities while criticizing Democratic President Joe Biden. Please see the attached memorandum regarding the 2022-2023 Salary Increase and Minimum Wage Pay Adjustment for In-Unit & Out-of-Unit Staff. I think that is going to help our state as a whole, said Senate Appropriations chairperson Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. Jim Justice has proposed 5% pay raises for state employees and public school teachers. I wonder how many other State retirees fall into this category. Javascript must be enabled for site search. Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees . May 6, 2022 Updated May 7, 2022 0 As part of House Bill 1, also known as the executive branch budget, state employees will receive an 8% across-the-board raise in the next fiscal year.. We know from some of our survey data that people struggle to pay their health care costs by making trade offs with other parts of their budgets, less on food, maybe different housing, delaying getting education, Collins said. People who work for the state currently can enroll in a preferred provider organization policy, PPO, or a health maintenance organization plan, HMO. Im excited for Floridas teachers and am grateful for Governor DeSantis vision and his relentless pursuit to improve the teaching profession.. And other hospitals including Jackson will continue to benefit from a program begun in 2021 that brought more than $1 billion in new federal funding during its first year. Existing Florida law. DeSantis' veto list, DeSantis budget includes raise for state workers, new emergency operations center, Florida lawmakers consider banning cities, counties from setting local minimum wages, What Leon legislative delegation got into 2022-23 state budget, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Our members deserve annual raises like this one so that state employment pays living wages and continues to be a sustainable career option for professionals, said Vicki Hall, president of Florida AFSCME. For the rest of Floridians, affordable housing has been the subject of calls for more money, as the states sizzling housing market has driven rents and home prices through the roof. This message has been approved by Renisha Gibbs, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Finance & Administration Chief of Staff, for distribution to all Deans, Directors, and Department Heads. The record spending plan is thanks to the states booming tax rolls coming out of the pandemic and billions of dollars handed down from Congress. Employees in Florida paid more for their health insurance in 2020 than workers in nearly every other state, a new study from The Commonwealth Fund found.. Workers in Florida pay a greater percentage of that premium one of the highest in the country, Collins said. While pay raises look settled, Trumbull and Stargel held a later Tuesday meeting to address dozens of other spending issues. (A similar program was vetoed by DeSantis last year.). More: What was cut from Florida's budget? Another $400 million is going to support rural broadband initiatives. He previously reported for Fresh Take Florida, a news service that covers the Florida Legislature and state political stories operating out of UFs College of Journalism and Communications. - Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced $800 million in this year's budget to raise minimum teacher pay and increase veteran teacher salaries in Florida. The increases in teacher pay will provide critical help to teachers in Florida during a critical time where inflation is rising rapidly across the country: What is nice about this for teachers is that you made a commitment for our teachers that you would raise base pay to sustain a living, said Christopher Glinton, Principal, Renaissance Charter School at Wellington. Political editor Emily L. Mahoney will send you a rundown on local, state and national politics coverage every Thursday. 2022-2023 Staff Pay Increase Memo (PDF) Article Date August 4, 2022 Office of Human Resources 282 Champions Way State Law Enforcement Officers/Troopers - Increase minimum salary to $50,000 or an additional 5 percent pay increase, whichever is greater Correctional and Probation Officers - Increase minimum salary to $41,600 ($20 per hour) and other position classifications ranging from $45,760 to $57,886 Insurance premiums for both of us under the family plan is deducted from my FRS Pension. And the problem has gotten worse over the past decade. "There really are no more important issues than food and jobs so thats disappointing.. The LCSO Behavioral Health and Occupational Wellness Program requested the grant to develop a mental health resiliency initiative to assist smaller partner agencies in surrounding counties. Ron DeSantis signed Thursday is a qualified success for Tallahassee and Leon County.. Ron DeSantis will have the ultimate say over how much the state spends in the 2022-23 fiscal year. DeSantis on masks, Districts rebelled against DeSantis: Florida school districts rebel against governor's mask order, presenting political test, What DeSantis wanted: Helped by federal aid, Gov. 4 things to know. St. Petersburg, Florida 33704. The Gadsden EOC and Sheriffs office is currently housed in a 30-year-old building that does not meet hurricane building codes and lacks space to house all agencies needed during an emergency. The journals or printed bills of the respective chambers should be consulted for official purposes. But with inflation rising and many state agencies struggling to hire and keep employees, lawmakers have adapted to a new political reality. Included in the budgets many provisions is a 5.38% raise for all state employees, increases in teacher salaries and funding to boost the minimum wage for state workers to $15. Local lawmakers, lobbyists and labor leaders said the $109 billion state budget Gov. The food bank serves 17 North Florida counties and planned to use the money to buy delivery vans and refrigeration equipment. To fund an Outreach Coordinator and assistant to conduct training workshops for panhandle teachers, statutorily mandated to teach Holocaust Education, and to expand programs for the annual Holocaust Education Week. By this initiative happening, it is not about having a salary, it is about can a teacher pay their light bill, can a teacher pay their water bill, can a teacher give a kid who doesnt have food at home an extra snack, or an extra bag of chips to put in their backpack and not at the expense of their own home., I dont think people always understand the countless hours we put into our work, said Loren Temes, 2nd Grade Teacher, Renaissance Charter School at Wellington. The current agriculture commissioner, Democrat Nikki Fried, is running to challenge DeSantis for governor. The budget deal uses $800 million in federal funding for environmental spending, including $300 million to allow the Department of Agriculture to expand the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Meanwhile, the health insurance recommendations in DeSantis proposed budget run afoul of Sen. Jeff Brandes desire to remodel the state group health insurance program in the next fiscal year. In 2010, Floridians spent 10% of their median income on health insurance premiums and deductibles. With the Texas Juvenile Justice Department having a turnover rate of 29.8% and the Health Human Services Commission at 27.9%. ", PublishedJanuary 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM EST. Senate President Simpson prioritized more than $706 million in funding for a new Moffitt Cancer Center campus and related infrastructure in Pasco County. Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. Publications, Help Searching Phone: (727) 642-3162 And employees working for state vendors, such as nursing home attendants, also will get pay increases. I truly love my students. Florida Gov. Given it is excellent coverage. And teachers, bus drivers, workers at state-contracted nursing homes and Medicaid contractors will all see their pay start at $15 per hour. How distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine exposes inequities in Floridas health care system. AFSCME, the labor union representing. Another $80 million is going to build a new state emergency operations center, and $115 million is going to repair and renovate the state Capitol grounds. Its unfortunate that despite having record cash to work with, we couldnt do more for Floridians struggling with a housing crisis and global inflation, said Rep. Fentrice Driskell, the incoming leader of the House Democrats. Amy Baker, the coordinator for Floridas Office of Economic and Demographic Research, said earlier this month that fewer than 5,000 people most of them active workers were enrolled in high deductible health insurance plans, or about 2.7% of the state workforce. The other two aircraft would be available to the lieutenant governor, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, the House Speaker, Senate president and chairs of legislative committees and agency officials. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. I called People First to ask why his subsidy was not excluded and they said it was because no payment for health insurance was taken out of his monthly pension check. The Florida Senate on Friday announced a plan to raise the minimum wage for state employees to $15 an hour, an initiative led by Senate President Wilton Simpson, who also wants to hike pay for school bus drivers and other school vendors. The $800 million is a $250 million increase over last year's funding, and brings Florida's investments in teacher pay to greater than $2 billion since the 2020 Legislative Session. During a press conference announcing his plan, DeSantis said his decision to keep schools and other state operations open in fall 2020 signals he is committed to protecting Florida employees. 2 0 obj The average amount that Florida workers paid for premiums which come out of their paychecks and deductibles was $9,284 in 2020, or 16% of the states median income. <>/Metadata 242 0 R/ViewerPreferences 243 0 R>> Follow on him Twitter: @CallTallahassee. Since 2005, the Legislature has not appropriated any funds for university pay increases. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a $109.9 billion state budget bill that includes pay raises for state workers and law enforcement, as well as tax suspensions on gas, diapers and school supplies. He has challenged us to elevate and celebrate the teaching profession by listening to the needs of teachers, said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. In the 2015 Legislative Session- the last time state workers saw an across-the-board raise- lawmakers approved a 2.5% raise for state employees. PAY RAISE 2019: Dont leave out university workers appropriate funds for a university employees pay raise! AFSCME, the labor union representing state workers, said it appreciates the state recognizes theres been years of undervaluing workers. TALLAHASSEE In what would be by far the largest budget in state history, legislators on Thursday released a record $112.1 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that includes more than $1 billion for pay raises for state workers and contractors. DeSantis budget also allocates $75.4 million to increase the base rate of more than 4,500 sworn law enforcement officers, $124.2 million to increase the base rate pay for correctional probation officers and inspectors who work for the Department of Corrections, and another $15.9 million to the department to implement an employee retention plan. Please contact Shelley Lopez at (850) 644-6602 or s.lopez@fsu.edu. Protecting state health insurance is not such an accomplishment when a couple of retirees have to pay nearly $1000/month for a supplemental to Medicare policy. With more money spent on insurance theres less room for workers to spend on other necessities, Collins said. And the cost of living continues to rise! Bringing home the bacon: What Leon legislative delegation got into 2022-23 state budget, Leon lawmakers' 2022 session agenda: Work, new jobs, aid to North Florida counties. All state workers will see across-the-board 5.38 percent pay raises. As a result of having skin in the game, Brandes said, they are less likely to consume unnecessary health care services that can increase costs. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP), See stories by Anthony Izaguirre | the Associated Press, Black History Month is over, but these movies are forever, Hong Kong court convicts 3 activists who organized Tiananmen vigils, Over $30M worth of Funkos are being dumped, An American walked her pet cow in Moscow's Red Square. DeSantis unveils 'Freedom First' budget for 'free state', Gov. However, some hospitals were spared. The budget is 10.4 percent higher than last years $101.5 billion budget, which would be the largest one-year increase in at least a decade, according to data from Florida TaxWatch. But how long is needed to finish the budget workappears to be an unknown at the moment. The 12 school districtstargeted in the House's original proposal were looking to get the $200 million penalty removed from the state's school funding system. The 5.3% pay raise and $15 minimum wage starting July 1 will boost the area's payroll by at least an additional $40 million annually. <> Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Theyre proposing $200 million in federal relief dollars to supplement a monthlong cut to the states gas tax in October. In allocating the pay increases to career service employees, the Governors budget requires the agencies to take into consideration the length of time employees have been on the job. House budget chair Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, and his Senate counterpart, Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, agreed to the pay raise before getting bogged down amida host of big ticket items still unsettled across a proposed budget topping $100 billion for only the second time in state history. DeSantis had called for pouring about $355 million into construction, home-buying and rent relief efforts. This will help Florida to recruit and retain great teachers., Governor DeSantis is unquestionably the most pro-teacher governor in the nation. But he, along with Ausley and Tant said the big prize was the state worker pay raise. Some environmental advocates noted that the Florida Communities Trust program, which provides matching grants to create parks close to where people live, is not funded. If you havent already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription. 2021-2022 Base Salary Increase & Staff Bonus Memo. Skip to Navigation | Skip to Main Content | Skip to Site Map. At an overall average of 19.3% across state agencies, Texas agencies are at the breaking point. State Sen. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, pointed out a number of those itemsdid not make it pastDeSantis' budgetreview. Thecelebration over a historic 5.3% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and a new $15 minimum wage for state workers was partlyovershadowed Friday morning by the vetoes of $1 million earmarked to the Second Harvest of the Big Bend and a $50,000 appropriation for the Leon Works Expo and Junior Apprenticeship Program. Too many workers are leaving for more rewarding employment elsewhere and the state is unable to maintain adequate staffing levels.. The study compared employee health insurance costs, including insurance premiums and deductibles. Weve had teachers who havent had (raises) in many years because of the downturn that we had, so we put the money in hoping we can retain quality teachers. AMIkids provides Gadsden County youth with mental health, substance abuse, mentoring, and vocational training services as a juvenile diversion program. The budget also includes various state tax suspensions, which the governor and others have said are needed to help combat economic inflation. Lawmakers have assigned $3.5 billion in federal dollars for various projects in the next fiscal year, with the biggest piece about $1.4 billion going to construction and maintenance for the states colleges and universities. Butstill to be settled is more than $300 million in environmental spending earmarked by the Senate for the states rural and family lands program under the Agriculture Department. Brandes, now chair of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, wants to steer more state employees into high deductible health plans. . The project will restore wildlife habitat, rehydrate wetlands, and improve discharge into the Floridan Aquifer and directly benefit the Wakulla Springs. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. Theres funding for water projects in both Leon and Gadsden, said Ausley. Collins said it's especially burdensome to people who make less money. <> Many teachers are dedicated to their profession, but can have a difficult time purchasing a home, paying student loans, and providing for their families. The teamwork and collaboration between the Governors team and our district leaders has been incredible and I am so grateful for that. Under the plan, DeSantis would exclusively use the Citation. Elections - $16.2 million GR and TF - includes: Additional Positions for Voter Registration Activities - $1.1 million; 15.0 positions, Office of Election Crimes and Security Investigators - $1.1 million; 15.0 positions, Florida Voter Registration System Modernization Feasibility Study - $450,000, Grants to Supervisors of Elections for Cyber Security - $8 million, Memorial for Champlain Towers South - $1.0 million, New Artifacts Curation Facility - $13.8 million SFRF, Local Transportation Initiatives (Road Fund) Projects - $498.6 million, Innovative Grant Program for Transportation Disadvantaged - $4 million, Commercial Driver License Training, Testing, and Licensing - $500,000, New Positions - 11.0 positions; $1.2 million GR, Urban Search and Rescue Teams Training and Equipment Grants - $10 million GR, Mobile Home Tie-Down Program Increased Funding - $7 million GR, Open Federally Declared Disaster (FEMA reimbursement and pass-through) - $1.5 billion, Community Recovery, Preparedness, and Critical Facilities Projects - $30.8 million GR, Rural and Family Lands Protection Program/Wildlife Corridors - $300 million, Emergency Wildfire Management - $93.8 million, Wildfire Suppression Equipment/Aircraft - $42.7 million, Florida Forest Service Aerial Protection Program - $15 million, Road/Bridge and Facility Maintenance - $8.4 million, Citrus Protection and Research - 5 positions and $16.6 million, Lake Okeechobee Agriculture Projects - $5 million, Florida Agriculture Promotion Campaign - $19 million, Licensing Concealed Weapons Program - 25 positions and $1.7 million, Feeding Programs/Farm Share/Feeding Florida - $15.1 million, Agriculture Education and Promotion Facilities - $31.8 million, Building Repair and Maintenance - $1.5 million, Water Quality Improvements - $782.4 million, Staffing for Environmental Permitting - 33 positions and $3.3 million, Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvements - $20 million, Septic Upgrade Incentive Program - $10 million, Non-Point Source Planning Grants - $10 million, Water Restoration Assistance Staff - 25 positions and $3 million, Flood and Sea-Level Rise Program - $470.9 million, Water Quality Improvements - Blue Green Algae Task Force - $10.8 million, Innovative Technology Grants for Harmful Algal Blooms - $15 million, Resilient Florida Program - 25 positions and $2.4 million, Florida Forever Programs and Land Acquisition - $168.7 million, Florida Recreational Development Assistance Grants - $10.7 million, Green Heart of the Everglades Acquisition - $35 million GR, Rattlesnake Key Acquisition - $23 million GR, Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern - $20 million, Petroleum Tanks Cleanup Program - $180 million, Hazardous Waste and Dry Clean Site Cleanup - $40 million, Beach Management Funding Assistance - $50 million, Drinking Water Revolving Loan Program - $202.6 million, Wastewater Revolving Loan Program - $264.8 million, Water Infrastructure Improvements - $178.9 million, Small County Wastewater Treatment Grants - $12 million, Land and Water Conservation Grants - $13.5 million, State Parks Maintenance and Repairs - $239.5 million, Customer Experience Modernization - $4.4 million, Florida Planning, Accounting & Ledger Management (PALM) Project - $45.7 million, Information Technology Upgrades to Software, Hardware, and Equipment - $7.7 million, Florida Firefighter Cancer Research - $2.0 million, Local Government Fire and Firefighter Services - $46.3 million, Law Enforcement Positions, Equipment, Training and Enhancements - 12 positions and $4.3million, Marine Fisheries Recovery Grant Program - $2.5 million, Law Enforcement Equipment Replacement - $12.7 million, Law Enforcement Enhanced Patrol and Support - 12 positions and $2.6 million, FWC Buildings Maintenance and Repair - $4.2 million, Boating Infrastructure and Improvement Program - $7.2 million, Nuisance and Invasive Species Response - $2 million, Apalachicola Bay Oyster Restoration - $3.2 million, Land Use Planning Program - 10 positions and $0.8 million, Increased Payments Related to Ticket Purchases - $6.7 million, Florida Facilities Pool (FFP) Fixed Capital Outlay - 16 positions and $61.8 million, Capitol Complex Renovations and Repairs - $115 million, State Emergency Operations Center - $80 million, Department of Corrections Facilities Master Plan - $5 million, Division of Retirement Critical Workload - 20 positions and $2.4 million, Executive Aircraft Program - 17 positions and $30.8 million, Cybersecurity - 8 positions and $119.2 million, Cloud Modernization and Migration - $163.4 million, Northwest Regional Data Center (NWRDC)/State Data Center - $20 million, State Data Center Contract with NWRDC - 7 positions and $1 million, Fiscally Constrained Counties - $38.8 million. What were doing in the budget is making sure that were meeting the obligations, making sure were funding key priorities but also, protecting the state against what very well may be a Biden-induced recession, said DeSantis, who is running for reelection and is considered a potential frontrunner for a 2024 GOP presidential bid. DeSantis budget also puts a freeze on any changes to employee health benefits, either in benefit design or cost. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. No state workers will make less than $15 per hour. According to an FY 2018 State Auditors Report, overall turnover in state agencies is now higher than it has been since at least 1990, when the SAO began tracking turnover. "/> The health care budget funds two of those programs to the tune of more than $36 million. Sign up for our newsletter: Get Capitol Buzz, a special bonus edition of The Buzz with Emily L. Mahoney, each Saturday while the Legislature is meeting. Update the new pay period amount for any employee given a pay change after the initial data is pulled, with an effective date prior to July 1, 2022. He should be pleased. The other half is meant to boost the pay for veteran educators who already make above the base salary. (In December, he proposed a $99.7 billion budget, but in reality, it was at least $2 billion higher.). Email: [emailprotected] state_bargaining_team.png. Prepared by: Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal. Nursing homes got more than $200 million that must be spent on raising staff wages to $15 per hour. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will have final say over how much the state spends in the 2022-23 fiscal year. Watch the Florida Legislature live: The Florida Channel, a public affairs programming service funded by the Legislature, livestreams coverage at thefloridachannel.org. Local lawmakers, lobbyistsand labor leaders said the $109 billion state budget Gov. Fighting for higher starter teacher salaries and compensation for veteran teachers is what will not only attract the best teachers to Florida but, retain them as well., I think we can all agree that the last two years has presented many challenges but the one thing that remained constant and we could always count on was the support of our Superintendent and administration here in Clay County, saidJennifer Sherman,Teacher, Fleming Island Elementary School. We have invested more than $2 billion in teacher pay, and with rising inflation, this could not come at a better time. Questions? House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, fought for initiatives aimed at strengthening fatherhood in Florida. This is very important. Copyright 2000- 2023 State of Florida. While the university systems claim that university employees have received similar raises via merit raise and pay for performance schemes, the reality is that most university employees pay has been frozen or has increased only by tiny amounts since 2003. Brandes said those plans make consumers more aware of the services they get as well as the costs of the services. The state has also set aside money to provide for up to $5,000 signing bonuses for new or out-of-state law enforcement officers who join policing agencies in Florida. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, last year successfully pushed to bring state workers up to a minimum $13 hourly wage. University. In 2020, the average starting salary for a teacher in Florida was $40,000 (26th in the nation), and with todays funding, it will now be at least $47,000 (9th in the nation). The Law Enforcement (LEO) payscale is the federal government payscale used to determine the salaries of over 70% of federal civilian employees. ATTN: UT Regents, University Worker Pay Raise PETION. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Nat Bender on Monday, June 6 2022 - 12:03pm. In another dramatic move, lawmakers dropped aHouse-backed $200 million redistribution of funds from 12 counties that defied Gov. The mentorship program by the nonprofitOmega Lamplightersworks with boys in grades 4-12 to decrease gang related activity. Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Kelly Hayes, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Andrew Wilson, Wes Wolfe, and Mike Wright. The state will suspend the sales tax on diapers and baby clothes for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and create a two week tax holiday on clothing, shoes and school supplies between July 25 to August 7, among other tax suspensions. While lawmakers have been mired in grueling, emotional fights over abortion and other hot-button topics during this years legislative session, their proposed budget received little criticism. The $800 million is a $250 million increase over last years funding, and brings Floridas investments in teacher pay to greater than $2 billion since the 2020 Legislative Session. With a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2020 pushing the states minimum wage for all workers to $15-an-hour in 2026, Florida lawmakers now appear to be getting out slightly ahead of this shift. According to the Department of Management services, the average pay among Career Services employees is $37,668, while the statewide average is $51,000. DeSantis on masks, Florida school districts rebel against governor's mask order, presenting political test, Helped by federal aid, Gov. Lawmakers proposal for school spending is one of the largest ever, and the Florida Education Association, which represents teachers, called it a real step forward. Prosecutors and public defenders will see raises between $5,000 and $10,000. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. Those making $15 to $25 could see a pay increase as well. University employees have been left out of recent statewide pay raises. It also receives funds from Tallahassee and Leon schools.