Bonuses coming in the summer for first responders Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (Source: The Florida Channel) By News Service of Florida | May 5, 2021 at 9:29 PM EDT - Updated May 5 at 9:29 PM TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (News Service of Florida) - Gov. Ron DeSantis said he expects distribution âthroughout the summerâ of $1,000 bonuses that will go to first responders across the state for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bonuses, funded with federal stimulus money, are tied to a record $101.5 billion state budget (SB 2500) that lawmakers approved last week. The budget has not formally gone to DeSantis. âNow the budget will need to be signed,â said Desantis during an event on Wednesday at the Temple Terrace Fire Department. âWeâll have to go through all the line items. It takes a little bit of time, thereâs a lot of money at stake. But we will do that. And then once that budget is signed and the funds get released, weâre going to start getting these checks out.â