Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he will veto more than $256 million from a new state budget that legislators just passed days ago.
Scott announced on Tuesday that he plans to sign the $82 billion budget, but in an unusual move, he announced his planned budget vetoes ahead of time. Scott and other governors usually wait until the budget is delivered to them before announcing vetoes.
The vetoes include several Tampa Bay area projects including: $11 million for a performing arts center as Pasco Hernando State College, $5.4 million for construction at the Polk Parkway and a $3 million planned expansion at Hillsborough Community College. The HCC South Campus project also fell victim to the veto ax last year.
State legislators wrapped up their annual session last Friday. They approved a budget that did not include many of Scott's top priorities.
Scott's biggest proposed veto is $55 million legislators wanted to take out of an account dedicated to economic development projects.
