Scott Vetoes $142 Million In State Funding
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBSMiami) – Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the new state budget that will cost roughly $70 billion Tuesday. But, Scott also vetoed more than $140 million in spending for various programs.
"This budget is an education budget," Scott said.
Still, Scott cut a good bit of money from schools and higher education in the coming budget. Education leaders said the touted $1 billion in education funding will barely cover the costs of increasing enrollment and losses from other areas, according to the News Service of Florida.
All total, Scott line-item vetoed a total of $142.752 million from the newly inked state budget.
Scott cut $2 million from the Center for Digital Learning and Education and cut funding for several degree programs at Florida higher learning schools.
He cut $500,000 from the Dan Marino Project, $4 million from Choice Counseling, and $250,000 from Alzheimer's Family Care Center of Broward County.
Scott slashed $1.5 million from the Florida Council against Sexual Violence. He slashed $1.95 million from Nova Southeastern University. He cut $250,000 from the Joe Dimaggio Children's Hospital's Cardiac Lab and Operating Room.
The line item vetoes slashed $940,000 from the meningitis vaccine for children's immunizations. He cut the Brain and Spinal Research at UM by $400,000. Scott vetoed $100,000 for the Autism Center of Miami and cut $150,000 from the Broward Children's Center.
Scott cut $100,000 for environmental enhancements to the Lummus Park Docks and Piers for commercial use. He cut $300,000 from scheduled funding for improvements on 25th Avenue in Miami Gardens.
The funding for traffic improvements on SW 190th Extension in Southwest Ranches lost $243,000. Lauderdale Lakes lost $500,000 for scheduled roadway improvements NW 21st Street. He cut $12.3 million from payments to Expressway Authorities.
Goodwill of South Florida saw its funding cut by $250,000 as a result of Scott's veto pen. The Hialeah Chamber of Commerce lost $100,000 in the new budget.
Perhaps the biggest loser in the vetoes issued by Scott is the city of Miami. Scott vetoed $5 million that was scheduled to go towards public infrastructure improvement in the city of Miami. In addition, Governor Scott cut $500,000 from the Bay of Pigs Miami.
Biscayne Park lost $150,000 for the historical log cabin and Miami lost $100,000 for the Historic Hampton House.