TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida legislators have drawn up rival spending plans for the coming year that differ on everything from money for schools to spending on economic development.
The Florida House has proposed a nearly $80 billion budget, while the Florida Senate spending plan is about $1 billion more. Both budget proposals are higher than what Gov. Rick Scott proposed.
The Senate has proposed raising school spending 2 percent higher than this year or about $141 more for each student. The House proposal would increase student spending by 1.75 percent or about $124 more.
The Republican-controlled Legislature will spend the next several weeks working on their budget proposals. Legislative leaders have already suggested there could be several major changes between now and the end of session.
One big item revolves around how much money to set aside for tax cuts. Scott wants a tax cut package of roughly $1 billion.
