“My priorities are simply the priorities of the people,” Scott replied.
The spending plan, if signed by Scott, includes $16 million to maintain general operations at the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida, down from $23.5 million in the current year.
The plan, for the second consecutive year, does not include money for business incentives that Scott has relied on to help lure businesses to expand or relocate in Florida.
Scott asked for $250 million a year ago for incentives, and this year his request was for $85 million to fund the Quick Action Closing Fund, which was used potentially for the last time to draw British-based GKN Aerospace to a vacant field north of Panama City.
“I hope everybody remembers that this is the day that for sure we start not being competitive,” Scott said. “It really started last July 1.”
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land `O Lakes, has repeatedly called business incentives “corporate welfare.”
The state can still offer tax rebates to businesses through programs such as the Qualified Target Industries, which typically requires a local government match.
