Legislature

Expenditure of Public Funds
"Under the Florida Constitution, exclusive control over public funds rest solely with the legislature." State v. Fla. Police Benev. Ass 'n, Inc., 613 So. 2d 415,418 (Fla. 1992); see also State ex rei. Kurz v. Lee, 163 So. 859,868 (Fla. 1935) (requiring legislative appropriation prevents expenditure of public money "without the consent of the public given by their representatives in formal legislative Acts ... [and secures to the legislature] the exclusive power of deciding how, when, and for what purpose the public funds shall be applied in carrying on the government."). Money can be drawn from the treasury only pursuant to appropriations made by law. Art. IV, §1(c), Fla. Const. ("No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in pursuance of appropriation made by law.").

In Chiles v. Children A, B, C, D, E, and F, et al., 589 So. 2d 260 (Fla. 1991), the Florida Supreme Court ruled "this Court has long held that the power to appropriate state funds is legislative and is to be exercised only through duly enacted statutes." .... "Such a provision secures to the Legislative (except where the Constitution controls to the contrary) the exclusive power of deciding how, when, and for what purpose the public funds shall be applied in carrying on the government.... "Furthermore, the power to reduce appropriations, like any other lawmaking, is a legislative function."