Governor Rick Scott’s $89 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year has received its yearly report card from the nonprofit research institute TaxWatch. And, the group has recommendations.
According to the TaxWatch report, the budget contains 517 member projects, which are worth more than $560 million. Allthough legislation was passed so a committee heard each project; nearly every project was approved without much vetting. TaxWatch Vice President of Research Kurt Wenner says the legislature should consider their recommendations in order to rein in spending.
“In this environment, the prudence of funding so many local member projects at the expenses of core statewide functions is questionable. Florida TaxWatch urges the legislatures to rein in spending on these projects, and adopt our recommendations to better ensure that the ones that are funded provide the best return for taxpayer dollars,” Wenner says.
TaxWatch suggests the legislature continue working on member project legislation and create a competitive selection process.
