The cloud of uncertainty surrounding Florida’s $82.4 billion budget is keeping Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on the job a little longer than he planned.
The banker and former Senate President was waiting until the end of the legislative session to become a top administrator at Florida Atlantic University.
Now, Atwater says he’ll stick around until Governor Rick Scott decides whether to reject the entire spending plan, sign it, or use his line-item veto power.
“Once that’s set, and he has a good sense of how he’ll be acting on the budget, and of course, I wouldn’t be asking of him, that’s his decision, then we’ll pick our date.”
Florida Cabinet members are elected statewide and Scott will appoint Atwater’s interim replacement. Scott’s office says it has not compiled a list of candidates.
