Boynton Beach, Fla. – For the second straight year, Governor DeSantis has refused to apply for $250 million in Federal “SUN Bucks,” which would provide food over the summer for children who typically receive free or reduced lunch. State Senator Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) is disappointed and frustrated by the decision to not apply for funds, which all but 13 states are accessing.
SUN Bucks, or Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SEBT), provide grocery-buying benefits to income-eligible families when schools are closed for the summer. SUN Bucks benefits come in the form of a pre-loaded card with a one-time $120 benefit for the summer that families can use to purchase groceries.
While 2.1 million Floridian children would have benefitted from the program, officials for Florida’s Department of Children and Families say existing programs are enough — and argue that the federal program came with “strings attached” in the form of operational costs that would be shared with the state. The cost would amount to around $12 million, only 4.8% of the amount the state would be set to receive.
“I cannot understand why our state would choose to leave so much money on the table while families are having trouble putting food on theirs,” Sen. Berman said. “Governor DeSantis spends so much time complaining about the price of food and how hard it is to raise a family, but when faced with a real opportunity to help struggling families in our state, he decides to play politics and turn down the help. This decision shows the governor is out of touch and mean spirited.”
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