The new 2024-2025 stage budget, recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is being praised by the Florida agriculture community.
“It’s really a win-win for these critical investments in Florida agriculture, natural resources, and consumer protection,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.
Some of the spending measures include:
$100 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. This program focuses on maintaining the agricultural land base in Florida through the acquisition of permanent rural land protection easements.
$100 million each fiscal year, appropriated in SB 1638, to support the preservation of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including the acquisition of rural land protection easements under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
$40 million to support Florida’s citrus industry through infrastructure, research, and expansion of propagation and replanting efforts.
$32 million, appropriated in SB 1638, for land management within the Florida Forest Service.
$15.6 million for equipment and operational increases for the Florida Forest Service, ensuring that our firefighters have the equipment needed to complete their jobs safely and efficiently.
$15.6 million for equipment and operational increases for the Florida Forest Service, ensuring that our firefighters have the equipment needed to complete their jobs safely and efficiently.
$346 million for the administration of home energy rebate programs.
$80 million to construct a new facility at the Connor Complex in Tallahassee to consolidate owned and leased space in Tallahassee. The building, the first secured by FDACS since 1978, will provide important cost savings to taxpayers and much-needed operational efficiencies to help the department fulfill its critical mission.
$3 million to address recruitment and retention efforts throughout the department.
$13.3 million for repairs and maintenance and roads and bridges maintenance on state forest lands, for facility replacements, and for reforestation efforts on public and private lands.
$13.4 million for information technology critical needs including security enhancements, cloud migration and phone services, technology transformation, and Florida PALM system remediation.
