The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on June 30 unanimously approved a $22.903 million 2025–26 preliminary operating budget for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). That’s a $1.4 million increase over the previous fiscal year’s budget.
The increase from the prior year is a result of $1.1 million due to projects funded by additional state general revenue appropriations and a $356,000 increase in U.S. Department of Agriculture grant funding. The budget includes a state-mandated 2% salary increase for state employees. The FDOC is a Florida government agency.
The majority of the funding comes from $13.375 million in state general revenue. The FCC approved the preliminary operating budget after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state’s 2025–26 budget. The Florida state budget includes a record amount of funding for citrus programs. More than $104.5 million has been allocated to the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation.
FCC members, who are appointed by the governor, serve as the FDOC’s governing board. New appointees this year are Emma Ezell, Sean Frielich, Vernon Hollingsworth III, Daniel Hunt and Melanie Ressler. Steve Johnson, Carlos Martinez, William Poulton, Daniel Sutton and John “Patrick” Schirard were reappointed. Learn all about this year’s appointees here.
The next FCC meeting will be held at FDOC headquarters in Bartow on Sept. 17 at 9 a.m.
Source: FDOC
Share this Post