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FLORIDA - Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed significant pay raises for Florida law enforcement officers, including a 20% increase for new recruits and a 25% boost for veteran officers, as part of a broader effort to strengthen public safety and attract talent from other states.
Speaking alongside First Lady Casey DeSantis and several sheriffs, the governor called for significant salary increases for state law enforcement officers and firefighters.
The plan would raise pay by 20% for entry-level officers and by 25% for veterans, impacting more than 4,700 sworn officers and state firefighters.
DeSantis emphasized that the raises are part of Florida’s broader commitment to public safety and recruitment efforts, especially as other states see rising crime and police shortages.
He also noted that Florida continues to attract out-of-state officers, offering $5,000 bonuses to new recruits relocating from places like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
During the press conference, DeSantis reiterated Florida’s stance on maintaining law and order, pointing to the state’s relative calm during the unrest seen across other parts of the U.S. in 2020.
In a separate announcement made in Orlando, the governor proposed a long-term plan to eliminate property taxes.
DeSantis called property taxes the most burdensome for Floridians and hopes to place a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would phase them out entirely.
He estimates that the average household could save around $1,000 annually if the amendment is passed.
While details on how the state would offset the loss in revenue are still unclear, DeSantis suggested that Florida’s growing tourism economy could help fill the gap without raising taxes on residents.