Governor Rick Scott told the state’s media executives Wednesday he wants to continue setting aside hundreds of millions of dollars to lure businesses to Florida.
Scott says the process is the only way to assure corporations they will be rewarded for creating jobs.
“These companies are not going to do it if they have to every year afterwards say, oh I know the state said they would give us our money, but we’ve got to go lobby the Legislature every year to get the money. We just won’t win the deals.”
But the set asides are expensive and leave giant pots of money gathering dust while lawmakers scramble to fill budget holes elsewhere.
Scott’s insistence signals a rocky legislative session next year. Senate President Andy Gardiner suggested to the same gathering Wednesday he will stick to his pay-as you go approach.
“We want measurable goals and examples of where we can see, yes, this tax exemption worked. I think the case will be made and it will probably be made very strongly.”
Scott also used the occasion to declare the quote, “year of the manufacturer.” He wants to kill a $137 million tax on equipment.
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