Scott spares most projects in signing record budget

By JIM TURNER
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Without the public ceremony of past years, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday quietly signed into law a $77 billion, election-year budget, slashing just $68.9 million in pet projects from across the state.

The spending plan, the largest in state history, provides plenty of hometown projects for lawmakers to tout as they seek re-election, while increasing money for public schools, state colleges and universities, environmental projects and child welfare.

Vetoes included $2 million for public-transportation improvements for the planned 1,000-foot SkyRise Miami tower; $123,000 for a dog park in Jacksonville; $525,000 to develop canoe and kayak launches along public trails in Wakulla County; $50,000 to hire the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences to study Chronic Wasting Disease in deer; and $150,000 in both Duval and Broward counties for single-gender schools.

Republicans were quick to praise Scott for sparse use of his veto powers, while Democrats reacted by labeling the fiscal package as “pork-filled.”

The budget, which goes into effect July 1, provides the highest education funding in Florida history in terms of the total amount, $18.9 billion. However, on a per-student basis, education funding is still almost $190 below where it stood before the 2008 financial collapse.

Florida Education Association President Andy Ford called the budget a “squandered opportunity” for public schools.

The largest vetoes were $3.25 million for the Stetson University Sage Science Center office and lab and $3.25 million for Topeekeegee Yugnee Park in Broward County.

A line item of $350,000 for the restoration of an Addison Mizner-designed fountain in Palm Beach survived Scott cuts, while $205,000 to help renovate the historic Fulford-By-The-Sea Monument in North Miami Beach was vetoed.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]