TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A $74 billion spending plan for the state received unanimous approval from the Florida Senate.
The Senate on Wednesday approved a proposed state budget that includes a 3 percent pay raise for state workers and a more than $1 billion increase for the state's public schools.
The budget bill (SB 1500) now heads to the Florida House. The House is expected to debate and vote on a rival spending plan later this week.
The Florida Legislature has until early May to pass a new budget that covers spending from July 2013 until June 2014.
There are differences in the rival plans. For example, the House wants a 6 percent tuition hike for universities. The differences don't appear big enough to keep legislators ending their work on time.
