Ron DeSantis Vetoes All State Funding For The Arts

June 20, 2024 Politics, Republicans

The Sarasota Herald Tribune reports:

Florida arts and culture organizations, still struggling to recover after the COVID pandemic, took another unexpected financial hit when Gov. Ron DeSantis eliminated state funding for cultural programs.

DeSantis vetoed nearly $1 billion from the $116.5 billion state budget before signing it in Tampa on Wednesday, including nearly $90 million the legislature earmarked for 669 different arts and culture projects and for special line item programs.

It is the first time that no money will be allocated for arts and culture programs by the state.

Florida Politics reports:

“The veto of all cultural and museum grants from the budget is unprecedented,” said Carlos Guillermo Smith, a former Orlando Representative who was just elected to the Senate.

“The governor reviews every bill and appropriation that comes across his desk and uses his authority under the Florida Constitution to make veto decisions that are in the best interest of the State of Florida,” DeSantis’ Deputy Press Secretary Julia Friedland said, reissuing a statement given to media previously.

Read the full article.

Affected institutions include museums, community theater groups, performance venues, and the Orlando Philharmonic.

Earlier this month DeSantis boasted that Florida has a $17 billion budget surplus for the 2024-2025 year.



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