Florida Legislative Bosses Reach A Budget Deal
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) - It's just about $70 Billion, and you'll pay for most of it. It's Florida's new budget, and the number was set Monday afternoon after leaders in the Florida House and Senate finally came to terms on their biggest job of the session.
The agreement means the 60 day legislative session will be able to end on time this Friday, no matter what else is completed or left undone. The budget has to sit on the desks of lawmakers for 72 hours before a final vote can be taken.
House and Senate budget negotiators meeting agreed to a whole range of items including a decision to break off an existing branch campus of the University of South Florida in Lakeland and turn it into a stand-alone university.
The decision overrules a previous decision that would have allowed independence for the school if it met certain goals.
Budget negotiators also agreed to require state senators to pay as much for health insurance as rank-and-file employees.
