Florida budget cuts

University of South Florida Board chairman Will Weatherford assured officials that DeSantis would come around next year.

Appropriations Chairman Jay Trumbull says possible assistance from the federal government won't make up for the shortfall.

Getting ready for the possibility of a special legislative session to balance Florida’s budget, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and top House and Senate appropriations staff have called on state agencies to draw up ways to slice 8.5 percent from their current budgets to address “the expected shortfall” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.