Expect 'Substantially Less' Vetoes in Budget, Rick Scott Says

The states budget wont see the slashing that occurred a year ago, Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday morning, as he prepares for the ceremonial signing of the states $70 billion budget.

Scott said the number of vetoes this year will be substantially less than the $615 million slashed a year ago, as those backing individual line items have done a better job showing the economic return on the investments.

There are still some things Im not going to approve because I havent seen the returns, Scott said while speaking on WOKV 690 AM in Jacksonville Tuesday morning.

With one of his key priorities having been to increase Pre-K to grade 12 education by $1 billion, Gov. Rick Scott will use the A-rated Cunningham Creek Elementary School in St. Johns County at noon Tuesday as the backdrop for signing the 2012-2013 budget.

Scott said he looked at 440 projects in the budget on the basis ofreturn on the investment for the state.

If you look at how we do economic development, if we put up $1 million we expected to get a multiple of that back, Scott said. I expect the same with tax dollars.

Scott wouldnt say what he will veto. But he noted that public television, which is slated for approximately $3.9 million divided among 13 stations around the state, will not be on the chopping block for a second consecutive year.

They came back to me and they showed me that there is a return for spending that money, Scott said.

Last year, Scott cut $4.8 million that had been designated for Florida's public broadcasting stations.

Budget watchdog Florida TaxWatch has called for Scott to cut 143 projects worth $150.6 million from the budget, ranging from the Brevard Community College Public Safety Institute to a land purchase next to the governors mansion and a Bay of Pigs Museum in Miami.

TaxWatch, which has been suggesting budget cuts to legislative earmarks since 1983, was particularly opposed to 24 water projects -- such as St. Johns River restoration and city sewer work in Umatilla -- because it says they were approved without proper legislative review.

Also remaining in the budget will be the increased funding for Visit Florida, which next year will be heavily marketing the state as part of the upcoming 500th anniversary.

Weve got to continue to market our state, Scott said.

With attention to Viva Florida, Visit Floridas budget is growing from $35 million to $54 million.

The $140 million for upgrades at Floridas seaports, to ensure the facilities are prepared for increasing global trade, both from South America and the Far East that is expected with the widening of the Panama Canal, will also remain, Scott said.