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Are you prepared for Hurricane Season? The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season begins Monday, June 1st. Shop tax-free on certain hurricane prep supplies this weekend to ensure you and your family are ready for any storm.
Here is a full list of eligible items:
- $10 or less: reusable ice packs
- $20 or less: flashlights and lanterns
- $25 or less: gas and fuel containers
- $30 or less: batteries and coolers
- $50 or less: radios and tarps, bungee cords, tie-downs, etc.
- $750 or less: generators
Be sure to also Get A Plan: floridadisaster.org/getaplan/
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This week I delivered three proclamations to recognize the generosity and dedication of Putnam County residents Brian Bunch, Brian Parrish, and Putnam County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Steve Dennis. Thank you to each of you for extending a helping hand to our community!
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Brian Bunch is a 5th Grade student at Interlachen Elementary. Brian, along with his sister, saved money and bought a 3D printer to make face clips for the masks of our frontline COVID-19 responders to relieve ear pressure and irritation.
Brian Parrish, a food service manager and robotics coach at Ochwilla Elementary School, created mask adjusters to make masks larger for adults or smaller for special needs children. Together, the Brians printed and distributed 900 masks to Shands, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Azalea Health, and more.
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Battalion Chief Steve Dennis worked alongside Chief Quin Romay to start the Putnam County Fire Rescue. Putnam County residents were in safe hands with Chief Dennis at the helm, and he trained an exceptional team to carry on his legacy. It was an honor to thank Chief Dennis for 45 years of dedicated service to Putnam County and our fellow Floridians.
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Putnam and Alachua counties have been approved to reopen short-term vacation rentals! Putnam County rentals will resume this Saturday. I applaud those who made it possible to take another step toward reopening Florida's economy while prioritizing the health of our communities.
In Full Phase 1, counties may seek approval to operate vacation rentals by submitting a written request and and "county vacation rental safety plan" to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
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NEW TESTING SITE: CVS Health anounced 30 new COVID-19 testing sites, including one in Gainesville.
Address:
CVS Pharmacy
901 North Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601
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Summer camps got the green light! Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-131 to allow youth activities to reopen for in time for summer, which will thankfully allow kids spend the summer the way they should be-- playing outside with their friends.
The Executive order specifically says:
"Organized youth activities may operate, including youth sports teams and leagues, youth clubs and programs, and child care. Summer camps and youth recreation camps may operate including, but not limited to, those defined 409.175 and 513.02, Florida Statutes, respectively.
View the full order HERE.
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Below is an important message from Florida Senate President Bill Galvano on COVID-19's impact on our state revenue. Because of the fiscal responsible decisions by Florida's leaders over the past decade, including during the 2020 Legislative Session, our reserve funds are substantial. This means we are still in a strong fiscal position, and we will continue to update you as the fiscal outlook evolves.
Here is the memo the Florida Senate received this week:
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As we near the end of the first month of re-opening our great state, and conclude a Memorial Day Weekend that reminded us of the sacrifices of so many, we have seen several important developments that provide insight regarding our state’s continued response to the unprecedented COVID-19 public health emergency.
Friday brought concerning, but expected, news that our state unemployment rate for April, at the height of Florida’s Safer at Home Order, has risen to 12.9%, just under the national average. While Floridians across the state have been feeling the significant impacts of unemployment for several weeks, this is our first real glimpse into the severity of unemployment due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and should be one of our primary focuses as we work to reopen the state as quickly and safely as possible.
Florida has now paid nearly $3.5 billion in reemployment assistance payments to more than one million Floridians. I recognize that overall numbers may ring hollow to an eligible unemployed worker who has yet to receive a benefit check; however, despite significant hurdles, we are now seeing great upward momentum with the processing and payment of claims. Most importantly, Florida’s all-hands-on-deck approach, including the great work ongoing in our Senate District Offices, must and will continue until the last claim is paid. While the immediate goal is to get claims paid as quickly as possible, the ultimate goal is to restore a Florida economy that provides Floridians with the security of a job and paycheck.
While professional district staff in communities across Florida continue their diligent work to serve impacted constituents, Tallahassee-based professional staff continue their meticulous tracking of fiscal issues that will impact Florida’s recovery. As I have indicated in prior communications, my goal is to share updates on these fiscal issues as often as practical.
General Revenue Collection Report for April
The attached General Revenue Collection Report for April reflects activity that occurred in March, all of which was affected by the pandemic, but to an increasing extent as the month progressed. The report also reflects voluntary changes to submitted estimated payments in April, which are more reflective of real time impacts experienced by businesses in the month of April.
Sales Tax collections were down $598.2 million. A large part of this loss is attributed to declines in tourism and hospitality-related industries, as well as auto sales.
The report also includes information on other revenue sources coming in below estimate in April, for a total of loss of $878.1 million from the estimate. However, it is important to take into account that three key revenue sources that came in below estimate in April were materially affected by formal state orders delaying payment of the taxes or fees until June or later.
- Corporate Income Tax – under by $246.0 million
- Highway Safety Fee – under by $20.2 million
- Corporate Filing Fee – under by $56.9 million
Generating a loss of $323.1 million or 36.8 percent of the total loss for the month, some or all of these declines in April and May are expected to be recaptured in June, prior to the next fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020.
As you may recall, January, February and March reports combined came in at $202.4 million over estimate. These dollars were unanticipated and not included in the prior estimate for General Revenue, but will help buffer the loss reflected in this and subsequent reports. With the lag in reporting, it is likely we will continue to see decline in the General Revenue Collection Report for May, issued next month, which will continue to reflect activity in April when the Safer at Home order was in place.
As you are aware, sound financial decisions made over the past decade have resulted in significant reserves and additional steps were taken during the 2020 Session to increase those reserves. Our ability to successfully navigate the current fiscal situation will require the same deliberate, professional, fact-based decision making we have employed in Florida for decades. The situation continues to evolve on a daily basis and additional data in the coming weeks will be critical.
Use of Federal CARES Act Funding
As we move forward, much debate at the federal level has ensued regarding whether or not states can utilize the federally-appropriated state stabilization funds ($4.6 billion already received by Florida) made available via the CARES Act to directly offset revenue losses that have occurred as a result of state efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Initially, comments from officials on both sides of the political aisle indicated a clarification or guidance would be issued permitting use of these federal CARES Act funds for this purpose. However, that conversation has broadened to discussions of full-scale state bailouts, which has been understandably met with skepticism.
I have many concerns with the idea that the federal government would consider bailing out unfunded state pensions or utilize federal taxpayer dollars to reward decades of state mismanagement unrelated to COVID-19. Doing so would not only increase our already significant federal deficit, but would incentivize bad-actor states to become more reliant on federal taxpayers to the detriment of states like Florida.
What I do support is further federal clarification that the $4.6 billion in state stabilization funds can be used not only to pay for direct expenses related to the state’s response to COVID-19, but also to address the very real cost of revenue loss that was a direct result of shutting down our economy to protect lives. Every business in our state will agree that lost revenue is an undeniable cost of the pandemic, and the same is true for the operations of our state government.
Recognizing the possibility that ultimately the state may not be able to directly use stabilization funds for this purpose, I have concurrently been working with Appropriations Staff to determine all of the permissible uses of this funding to best position Florida to fully recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The impacts of the pandemic have been profound, heart wrenching and far reaching, but we cannot allow the current situation to dim the vision of Florida we held just a few months ago.
We have and continue to receive guidance from the Federal Treasury that makes clear the CARES Act funds deposited in the General Revenue Fund are available to assist with day-to-day cash management.
Timeline for Additional Data
- June 25 – General Revenue Collection Report for May with Sales Tax Activity from April.
- July 25 – General Revenue Collection Report for June with Sales Tax Activity from May.
- On or about June 8th, IHS Markit and Moody’s Analytics will release their June macro forecasts.
- On June 16th, the May 2020 Advance Monthly Retail Report is scheduled for release by the Census Bureau.
Thank you for your continued efforts to serve our constituents and communities. As legislators we learn to focus on the task before us; the calls to be answered; the decisions to be made; the work to rebuild our State for tomorrow. As mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, as Floridians, we allow ourselves in quiet moments, to remember the real loss, the true cost, the price of this pandemic that can never be adequately measured and cannot be replaced. I am very proud of the efforts of the Senate family during this unprecedented time. We will get through this together. Stay strong and stay safe.
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Here is the Reemployment Assistance Guide for Floridians trying to file unemployment claims. It includes FAQs about eligibility and the CARES Act.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation:
- This week, the Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program is now available. This program, offered through the federal CARES Act and administered by DEO, provides up to 13 weeks of benefits to a claimant who has exhausted their Reemployment Assistance benefits.
- Floridians will need to apply for PEUC benefits once the balance of their current claim is exhausted. Floridians who have already exhausted their benefits or have a Reemployment Assistance claim that expired after July 1, 2019, will also be able to apply.
- Through PEUC, Floridians may be eligible for up to $275, in addition to the $600 through Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), in weekly benefits. The additional $600 through FPUC applies only to weeks of unemployment beginning March 29, 2020 and ends with the week ending July 25, 2020.
- All claimants participating in PEUC will still be required to claim weeks on a biweekly basis, certifying that they remain unemployed and are able and available for work during the weeks they are receiving PEUC. The first week a claimant can be eligible for this benefit is the week beginning March 29, 2020, and the last payable week is the week ending December 26, 2020.
- Unemployed Floridians who have exhausted their state Reemployment benefits will be notified with the next steps for PEUC.
- Click here for PEUC Application Process.
- Click here for PEUC Frequently Asked Questions.
- Click here for COVID-19 Employment Scenarios.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance:
- The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program provides unemployment benefits to those that may not otherwise be eligible under Florida’s state Reemployment Assistance program, including independent contractors and individuals who are self-employed. Individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19 and believe they may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, can visit www.FloridaJobs.org and select "File a Claim" to apply and be considered for PUA.
- Click here for PUA Application Process.
- Click here for PUA Frequently Asked Questions.
- Click here for COVID-19 Employment Scenarios.
Applicants should utilize the following criteria when applying for PUA:
- Individuals who applied for the state’s Reemployment Assistance benefits on or after April 5, 2020, and were deemed ineligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits will receive additional application information from the Department. They can also visit www.FloridaJobs.org/cares-act for more information regarding these programs.
- Pursuant to the requirements of the CARES Act, 20 C.F.R. 625.4, and section 443.036, F.S., those who are self-employed, contract employees, gig workers, or others who applied for the state’s Reemployment Assistance benefits on or before April 4, 2020, should apply at www.FloridaJobs.org and select “File a Claim” to request PUA.
Unemployed Floridians who have not yet applied for any benefit should apply at www.FloridaJobs.org and will be considered for all existing programs, including PUA.
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It's an honor to represent you in the Florida Senate. Thank you for your continued support, input and patience as we work together to make lasting impacts in our community. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions, concerns, or thoughts at any time. We are here for you!
Sincerely,
Senator Keith Perry
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