DeSantis vetoes $1.7 billion, signs state budget

Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 2026-27 state budget Monday morning in Hillsborough County. The governor exercised his veto power to eliminate $1.7 billion from the proposed budget, including nearly $810 million in line-item vetoes.

The Florida Legislature sent its $116 billion budget proposal to DeSantis in late May; the governor had until July 1 – the start of the next fiscal year – to approve it, or issue line-item vetoes.

“The things that we vetoed, a lot of those are just either inappropriate or maybe nice to have. Nice to have is fine, but I want to fund things that we have to have,” DeSantis said.

It was the eighth and final state budget finalized under DeSantis’ two terms as governor.

“I am proud to leave Florida better positioned than ever to meet future challenges while preserving the freedom and prosperity that have made the state the nation’s model for effective conservative governance,” he said in a letter to Secretary of State Cord Byrd announcing the signing.

Noteworthy local vetoes include: 

• Pinellas County PACE expansion, 250 new slots: $3,939,123
• Pinellas County Lealman Exchange hurricane hardening: $2,000,000
• Clearwater Elevate Bayshore: $1,000,000
• Madeira Beach Area 6 Roadway Improvement Project: $1,000,000
• Evara Health, Addressing Medical Workforce Shortage in Florida: $750,000
• Tampa Bay Watch Shoreline Protection and Water Quality Improvements: $750,000
• Pinellas County PACE expansion, 50 new slots: $590,869
• St. Petersburg Childs Park Storm Drainage Improvements: $500,000
• Redington Beaches Fire Suppression Unit: $500,000
• St. Petersburg Police Department K-9 Facility: $350,000
• Tarpon Springs Pinellas Trail Culvert Project: $175,708
• Safety Harbor City Hall Security Improvements: $160,000
• AMPLIFY Clearwater Chamber Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy: $140,500

This is a developing story.