Gov. Rick Scott will recommend a $79.3 billion budget to lawmakers next year, an increase of about $855 million on the current year, his office announced Monday.
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Among the taxes Scott wants to cut are sales tax on manufacturing equipment, income taxes on retail and manufacturing companies, and he also wants to reduce the taxes on commercial leases beginning in 2017.
Scott is looking for $1 billion in tax cuts from the Florida Legislature. Next yr, Scott has stated he is planning to make about a billion dollars in tax cuts.
GOP legislators have already expressed skepticism at the amount.
Scott, the private businessman who turned politician five years ago, opted to release his annual budget recommendations away from the state Capitol.
Lawmakers will convene in January to consider Scott’s recommendations during a two-month session. Scott said the remaining money from the federal government should be focused on the neediest hospitals, and he said the industry was enjoying record profits in Florida. Marco Rubio – have labeled this a tax hike.
Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardiner, brushed off both Scott’s figure and the outlook’s projection when asked which figure the upper chamber would use.
On another matter of keen local interest, the state Department of Transportation put $10 million in its tentative 2016-17 budget for deepening Jacksonville’s ship channel – a project that would cost around $700 million.
“Property values, when they go up, that’s good for us”, Scott said. Scott would remove 1,368 jobs from the rolls, though the administration says the vast majority of those will be vacant by the time the budget takes effect, while adding 504 positions.
“I love his tax cut package”, Corcoran said. His proposed increase in public school spending would require higher property tax bills for businesses and homeowners.
Rep. Mark Pafford, the House Democratic leader, blasted Scott’s budget and said the governor has the wrong priorities.
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There were also questions about whether Scott’s projected budget surplus, which he used to bankroll many of his programs, would stand up to scrutiny. Currently, roughly 30,000 employees, including Scott and many of his top aides, pay $8.34 a month for individual coverage and $30 a month for family coverage.
