State lawmakers restore

Pact on $83B plan clears way for session to end Monday

$1.5 million for a PTSD clinic at the University of Central Florida that was eliminated in a previous round of budget talks as they agree to the $83 billion spending plan.

TALLAHASSEE — Behind schedule and late in the evening, House and Senate negotiators agreed Thursday to an $83 billion spending plan for the year that begins July 1, setting up a delayed end to the legislative session.

The agreement provides for a modest increase in the main state formula for funding public education, cuts payments to hospitals by more than $500 million, and provides a raise to state employees for the first time since 2013. Negotiators also agreed to restore $1.5 million to a PTSD program run by the University of Central Florida, a program that had been cut in earlier talks.

It also closes out an arduous, weeks-long negotiation between the two chambers that has already pushed them into overtime — a final vote on the spending plan will come Monday, three days after the annual legislative session was supposed to end.

The state Constitution requires a 72-hour “cooling off” period before any agreement between the House and Senate can be approved.

“The budget is closed . ... No more. No more. The budget is closed,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater.

The final piece of the massive puzzle fell into place Thursday night, when lawmakers agreed on how to divide $521.1 million in Medicaid cuts to hospitals. An earlier draft of the spending cuts had proved unacceptable to the Senate.

The second draft of the cuts rejiggered the final reductions for many hospitals. The largest beneficiary appeared to be Orlando Health, which received $1 million more under the second House proposal than under the first. Meanwhile, the cut for Florida Hospital in Orange County grew by $2.6 million, while the reduction for Baptist Hospital of Miami increased by almost $1.2 million.

Along with the hospital agreement, the chambers closed out a slew of other spending issues Thursday.

The two sides formalized an agreement on pay increases. Most state employees who earn $40,000 or less will get a $1,400 salary increase; those making more will get an extra $1,000 a year. Law enforcement and some high-ranking state officials, like Supreme Court justices, will receive more.

There are still some budgetrelated bills to hammer out,