Scott signs tax holidays for supplies

Certain storm, school items listed

Gov. Rick Scott signed a $180 million tax cut bill Thursday that includes two sales tax holidays that are right around the corner.

Next weekend, June 2-4, a three-day emergency preparedness sales tax holiday means ice, batteries, first-aid kits, gas tanks, coolers and generators will be tax free. The sales-tax holiday is expected to save Floridians $4.5 million.

From Aug. 4-6, a school supply sales-tax holiday will include clothing, shoes, wallets, handbags and backpacks that cost $60 or less. Computers that cost less than $750 and school supplies, such as pens, pencils, binders and lunch boxes that cost less than $15 are also included. The sales-tax holiday is estimated to save Floridians $33.4 million.

The so-called ‘tampon tax’ was eliminated with Scott’s signature. Starting in January, taxes won’t be charged on feminine hygiene products such as tampons and pads. That’s expected to save Floridians about $11 million a year.

Scott has cut taxes each year he has been in office. “With this year, over $6.7 billion,” he said.

This was the first time he cut the tax on businesses’ rent. Florida is the only state to have such a tax, and it has long been a target for the governor. The 0.2-percent cut is expected to cost the state $61 million in revenue.

Property tax cuts for some lowincome housing projects and assisted living facilities are projected to cost another $32.7 million.

“It’s a good day for Florida because we cut taxes again,” Scott said.

The bill signing took place at 3Cinteractive, a mobile marketing company in Boca Raton that provides text messaging, interactive coupons, push notifications and other mobile-based marketing services.

The company’s headquarters has a youth-driven aesthetic, with corrugated metal walls and a row of motorcycles lining a hallway.

“It has very interesting offices,” Scott said beneath rows of electric guitars hanging from the wall. “I’ve never seen offices like this before.”

The company employs more than 80 people, and Scott pointed to it as the sort of tech-driven businesses his jobs-focused administration has sought to bring to Florida.

Scott gave co-founder and COO

Mark Smith a Business Ambassador Award. The gold medal had a red-andwhite striped ribbon.

Scott was expected to sign the tax-cut bill. He’s still deciding whether he’ll sign or veto parts or all of the overall state budget.

A $24 per-student increase in K-12 education funding has teachers up in arms, and it’s much less than what Scott wanted.

“What I proposed on K-12 education was a $216 increase,” he said Thursday. “I’m reviewing all my options. I can veto any bill, I can veto the budget, I can veto a portion of the budget, I can veto lines in the budget, so I’m looking at all my options.”

He also said he’s “still frustrated that the politicians in Tallahassee have turned their backs on two very good organizations in our state that help grow businesses in our state — Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.”

The economic development and tourism marketing agencies were top priorities for Scott, but funding for both was slashed to the bone in the budget produced by the Florida Legislature.

The Legislature also could not pass medical marijuana legislation, leading to calls for a special session to hammer out a bill before the Department of Health is required to come up with rules in July.

Scott said he is “still reviewing” whether to call a special session.