Budget outline slashes Scott tax cuts, business incentives

TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers reached a key agreement in budget talks late Friday that leaves Gov. Rick Scott’s agenda for the legislative session in tatters.

Scott pushed his fellow Republicans in charge of the Legislature for $1 billion in tax cuts and $250 million in business incentives. Under the top-line budget numbers agreed to by House and Senate leaders, there is no funding for the type of incentives Scott sought and just $400 million in tax cuts.

The move zeroes out funding for Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development arm, to use to coax companies to relocate or expand in Florida.

Scott pitched lawmakers on the idea early and often, saying the $250 million Enterprise Fund was essential to his goal of diversifying the state economy and making it less reliant on tourism and growth.

The lack of incentives is curi- ous because earlier this week the House passed a bill aimed at streamlining the process for securing incentive deals but didn’t include any money. The Senate, however, had included the $250 million in its original budget.

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, said, “While I firmly believe that all members of the Legislature want to see our economy grow and increase jobs in Florida, there is great bipartisan disagreement over whether our current economic incentives are the best way to achieve those goals.”

Scott ’s office responded quickly. “We are beginning the process of notifying cities across the state that there would be no funding available to help them recruit businesses if the Legislature does not take immediate action to reverse course,” said spokeswoman Jackie Schutz in a statement.

Legislative leaders will meet in the coming days to work out details and differences between the chambers’ budgets. The last day of the legislative session is scheduled for March 11.