Budget

State budget talks continue as lawmakers clash over spending and tax issues. Your Florida talked with people across the state about the delays.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at how federal funding cuts and job losses could impact weather forecasting and hurricane preparedness in Florida and more.

Florida Senate President Ben Albritton wrote in a memo that he believes they are making progress but are not in a position to begin the budget conference next week.

Perez has called for reducing the state’s sales-tax rate but indicated Tuesday he is more focused on reducing spending. DeSantis, meanwhile, has pushed for property-tax cuts.

On "The Florida Roundup," host Tom Hudson spoke with Rolando Aedo with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau about potential implications of altering tourist development taxes.

The budget needs to be passed and then signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

The Legislature will either stay in Tallahassee past the May 2 deadline or come back later to get the job done. A key issue: tax cuts.

The bill released Monday included a one-time credit on annual vehicle registration fees and a three-year extension to an existing freeze on local cell phone and cable TV taxes.

A large number of proposals appear in both packages, but with different amounts of money.

The House budget is $4.4 billion less than the Senate's. Meanwhile, there are competing tax cut proposals and a vocal feud between Gov. DeSantis and the House.

House Speaker Daniel Perez has ordered an inquiry into agencies' finances. This is part of a broader effort to cut spending as they look to create a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Lawmakers face other differences, including issues related to state employees, tax cuts and whether to back away from spending decisions made in recent years.