On Tuesday, 31st January, 2017, Gov. Rick Scott proposed a budget with $83.5 billion, that boosts the spending on schools and provide incentives to lure businesses to Florida, but it is expected that, the budget will draw strong opposition from legislative leaders.
During the annual legislative planning session hosted by The Associated Press, Scott released details of his spending plan on Tuesday.
The Republican governor sending a direct shot to some of his critics in the GOP-controlled Legislature, framed his budget as a way to maintain Florida's economy and to grow jobs. The House Speaker, Richard Corcoran has trashed the Scott's proposed business incentives as "corporate welfare" and has vowed to stand firm in against to them.
In the coming year, Scott wants the legislators to set aside $85 million for incentives, and that would be used to entice companies to relocate or expand in the state. He also said that, the people who oppose them have never run a business by themselves.
Once Florida Governor’s Home Is Finally Opening
"We cannot be shortsighted to think we are immune to another national recession," Scott said. Scott was a health care executive and had never run for office before he was elected in 2010. Scott also calls $618 million for tax cuts, including a sharp reduction in sales taxes, which is currently charged on commercial leases. He also wants to offer several tax holidays to the residents, where sales taxes would not be collected on the items such as clothes or hurricane supplies.
But the governor also wants to rely on a rise in local property values to help the state’s public schools in order to boost their money. Scott has defended the approach, saying that, the rise in values, which results in higher property tax bill, is a sign that the economy is improving.
However, Corcoran and other House Republicans, contend this is a tax increase and have already said that they will not go along with the proposal.
Scott also recommended, in eliminating a contentious teacher bonus plan called the "Best and Brightest", which awards extra money to teachers based on their annual evaluations, and their scores on the standardized tests used to get into college. In the place of that, Scott wants to spend $58 million to help retain and recruit teachers, and his plan include offering hiring bonuses.
By Mrudula.
