$10 Million in Local Money Falls Under Veto Pen

BRADENTON – Despite historic cuts in the state budget in order to balance plunging revenues, the Florida legislature still managed to sign off on nearly $100 million of last minute-pork as the session came down to the wire. The quick sprinkling of special-project cash was tacked on largely without debate and in areas not thought to be a priority.

Questions immediately loomed as to what the Governor's response would be and many felt Mr. Scott would get out the veto pen, especially for some of the most non-essential add-ons. True to his word, the governor struck items across the board, including two local projects that had been slated to receive $5 million in state funding each – the Benderson rowing facility just over the Manatee border in Sarasota County and a library renovation project at SCF.

The cuts, totaling around $615 million, allowed him to further trim the anemic budget to $69 billion. Though Republicans hold a large enough majority to override the cuts, it did not appear from response comments that they would. While Democrats in the minority voiced strong opinions opposing the deeper cuts, Republicans expressed individual disappointment, but didn't seem eager to engage in a public fight over projects in the current political climate.