TALLAHASSEE -- Nearly every state program will get officially cut Wednesday when the Florida Legislature votes along party lines to approve about $1.2 billion in budget reductions.

On average, the cuts will reduce state spending by about 2 percent, leaving the budget at $65 billion -- about what it was in 2006.

Legislators also plan to raid about $1.6 billion from special accounts.

Environmental programs will take one of the most severe cuts -- about 12 percent -- as part of a $240 million cut to the Department of Environmental Protection. The Florida Forever bond program, which buys land for conservation purposes, was whacked by $105 million.

Hospitals and nursing homes are somewhat spared, road programs are barely touched and providers of services to developmentally disabled people get a 5 percent rate cut.

State lawmakers also decided to raid special accounts called trust funds, taking $190 million from a housing fund. Still, they redirected about $43 million to another housing initiative to help people pay rent and make first-home down payments.

With few exceptions, Democrats plan to vote against the budget because Republican leaders refused to consider raising cigarette taxes, closing tax ''loopholes'' or approving Gov. Charlie Crist's gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe that would have brought the state $137 million.

The budget proposal does raise new revenue, however: Traffic fines are going up and nursing homes will pay a tax on profits. Also, legislators plan to allow local governments to pick up more of the tab to help fund Medicaid hospitals.

Orlando Democratic Rep. Scott Randolph said his Republican colleagues were guilty of hypocrisy.

'Why is it that when Republicans raise revenues, they call it an `enhancement' or a 'fee?' '' he asked. ``But when Democrats want tax fairness, it's called a tax increase?''

Marc Caputo can be reached at mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com.

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