State lawmakers brief West Palm Beach on 2025 budget, tax proposals and local appropriations

Florida State Representative Javonte Edmonds and State Senator Mac Bernard gave a joint update to the West Palm Beach City Commission on July 21 about the 2025 Florida legislative session, recapitalizing state budget decisions, bills of local interest, and appropriations affecting West Palm Beach. "We passed a record breaking budget of a $117,000,000,000," Representative Javonte Edmonds told the commission. He urged local leaders to track several tax packages and property-tax proposals likely to return in the next session.

The session and why it matters: The lawmakers said the 2025 session ran longer than usual and centered on a tax package that produced a multibillion-dollar compromise and changes affecting business taxes and local funding. "We put about $15,000,000,000 away in reserves," Edmonds said, and he flagged that the state will need to manage revenue reductions tied to proposed property-tax changes and the gradual elimination of the business rent tax. Senator Bernard added that he expects property-tax reform to again be a primary issue in the next legislative cycle.

Local appropriations and vetoes: Bernard summarized final appropriations and vetoes that affect West Palm Beach. "We ended up…