ORLANDO, Fla. — Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will include raises and bonuses for law enforcement when he announces his overall state budget proposal next week, he said at a news conference Monday in Orlando.

DeSantis is proposing repeating the $1,000 bonuses law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical technicians received this year.

He also wants $73 million to raise the minimum salary for entry-level state law enforcement officers by 20% and give existing state law enforcement officers a 25% raise.

“While other states have turned their backs on law enforcement, even calling to ‘defund the police,’ in Florida we continue to support the men and women in law enforcement,” DeSantis said.

“Increasing salaries for state law enforcement by 20% and 25%, respectively, is going to make a real difference for those officers. It will make a real difference for the families. It will help retain a lot of the talented people we have as well as recruit new people,” he said while surrounded by law enforcement officers at a Florida Highway Patrol station in Orlando.

The Legislature is still weeks away from releasing its budget proposals, and lawmakers do not have to follow the governor's recommendations. But the House and Senate are dominated by Republicans, and the chambers' leaders have helped DeSantis pass previous budget priorities.

This is DeSantis' final budget before the November election, which gives Republicans more incentive to let him tout legislative victories.

Spectrum News contributed to this report.

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