JACKSONVILLE -- Governor DeSantis joined local fire rescue officials at a fire station Monday afternoon to hand out the first batch of this year's round of $1,000 bonuses for police and firefighters in Florida. He says their counterparts around the state should be receiving theirs soon.
The governor recalled the bravery of first responders during the 9/11 attacks, commemorated on their 21st anniversary Sunday. He says it's a way to show that Florida appreciates their service.
The bonuses apply to anyone who was a first responder as of May 1st. Those eligible include police officers and sheriff's deputies, paramedics, EMTs, and firefighters.
DeSantis says he'll make sure the bonuses amount to $1,000 "after taxes" by contributing enough to cover income tax.
The governor also referenced other programs aimed at first responders, including bonuses for out-of-state law enforcement officers who move to Florida, and a program to help Florida first responders afford homes in the communities they serve. "The bottom line is, we want people serving their communities to be able to live in their communities. I don't want you to have to commute an hour and a half just to be able to go to work," DeSantis said.
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