In state budget talks, what sounds promising can die a quick death in a matter of hours.
At one state budget meeting on May 22, as Florida lawmakers neared the finalization of a new state budget, a 2% pay raise for state workers sounded at least possible, if not likely.
Alas, it was not to be.
After a subsequent meeting later in the day, Senate Appropriations Chair Ed Hooper appeared to drive a nail through the possibility of any pay raise being built into the spending plan for 2026-27 for rank-and-file office workers.
“To my knowledge, there’s no general wage increase across the board,” the Clearwater Republican told reporters after the meeting.
He did add that the “chances are pretty good,” however, for raises for law enforcement, state firefighters and corrections officers.
Earlier, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, released memos that were sent to their members that they plan to provide a final draft on May 26.
That kicks off the state’s mandated 72-hour “cooling off” period, leading to a vote in both chambers May 29 – the scheduled end of the current budget special session. The state’s budget year runs July 1–June 30.
State workers in Florida could have seen $1,000 pay bump
What had been on the table for state workers, however briefly, was a minimum increase of $1,000, or 2% of their current pay, whichever is more.
If included, it would have continued a pattern set early in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. Between 2010 and 2019, workers saw little or no salary growth. But DeSantis has signed off on six consecutive pay increases for workers since then.
Most have been small increases. The current fiscal year budget included a 3% raise, with a minimum $1,000 bump for employees.
The previous year saw a 2% increase after prolonged negotiations, underscoring how even modest raises are a sticking point in competing budget priorities.
This year’s negotiations began with the Senate advancing a proposal closer to 4%, while the House leaned toward a smaller boost, with talks converging around the 2% figure.
State employees, many of whom earn between $35,000 and $60,000 annually, would have seen an increase of about $1,000 or more under the proposal.
Jim Rosica contributed reporting. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on X: @CallTallahassee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: State worker pay raise now dead for 2026-27, top lawmaker says
Reporting by James Call, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
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