Gov. Rick Scott releases his proposed 2017-2018 budget Tuesday morning. I will be among the editors and political reporters from throughout the state gather at the Capitol for the unveiling at Associated Press annual meeting.
The proposal is an initial step as lawmakers move toward crafting a budget during the 60-day legislative session that begins March 7. Scott has already started rolling out parts of the budget proposal, which likely will top $80 billion.
Among proposals he’s already announced are $61.2 million for beach repairs; $76 million for tourism marketing; $85 million for business-recruitment incentives; and $11.7 million to boost the salaries of some 4,000 officers such as state troopers, Capitol police and wildlife law-enforcement officers. Scott has also said he will push for $618 million in tax cuts through reductions in a tax on commercial leases, sales-tax “holidays” for consumers and a modest reduction in the state’s corporate income tax.
source: The News Service of Florida