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Florida lawmakers have put the final touches on a plan to cut more than $1 billion dollars from the budget.  At-large budget committee co-chairs Representative Ray Sansom and Senator Lisa Carlton ironed out some minor differences between the two chambers’ plans.  Carlton says the education budget was not hit as hard as once feared.

“Hopefully, we have worked together in such way that minimizes the impact on services to people, especially in the (health and human services) area,” said Sen. Carlton.  “And I believe when you look in the final tally, the education cuts that we had to make have been very minimal compared to where we started out.”

Staffers will iron out the final appropriations, implementing and conforming bills as early as Tuesday morning.  After that, the budget will enter the mandatory 72-hour “cooling off period” then is expected to be passed by the House and Senate on Friday.