TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida legislators are confronting another budget shortfall in the coming year.
State lawmakers head into their annual session in January with a nearly $2 billion gap on a $66 billion budget.
Despite that gap, Gov. Rick Scott wants to boost money for public schools by $1 billion. Scott has called for deep cuts in other parts of the state budget, such as payments to hospitals, in order to come up with the extra money for schools.
Scott and legislative leaders have already ruled out tax hikes as a way to deal with the projected shortfall.
Lawmakers may target health care expenses for state workers as one way to save money. Scott says he wants all state employees to pay the same amount for health insurance.
Source: Gary Fineout – AP
