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Governor Scott Highlights $180 Million Tax Cut Package

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Governor Rick Scott today visited W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, a Jacksonville-based company with more than 1,000 employees throughout eight Florida locations, to highlight his proposal for $180 million in tax cuts for Florida families in his Securing Florida’s Future recommended budget. The Governor’s proposal includes sales tax holidays to help families prepare for the school year and hurricane season, and reductions to many of the fees on driver’s licenses. Since 2010, the Governor has cut taxes more than 80 times, saving Floridians more than $7.5 billion. Governor Scott also highlighted his proposed amendment to Florida’s Constitution to make it harder for politicians to raise taxes by requiring a supermajority vote by future Florida legislatures to raise any taxes or fees.
Governor Scott’s $180 million tax cut package includes:

  • Sales Tax Holidays to Save Families $88 Million – The Governor’s recommended budget includes funding for four sales tax holidays which will save Floridians an estimated $88 million in the upcoming fiscal year. These sales tax holidays include:
    • $73 million from a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday; and
    • $15 million from three one-week disaster preparedness sales tax holidays which would take place in May, June and July.
  • Reduction in Driver’s License Fees to Save Floridians $87 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to reduce the fees for driver’s licenses. These fees were increased in 2009, prior to Governor Scott taking office. These fee cuts include:
    • $67 million in savings from reducing the fee for a renewal of a regular driver’s license by more than 58 percent from $48 to $20; and
    • $20 million in savings from reducing the fee on an original regular driver’s license by more than 43 percent from $48 to $27 and the fee on an original Commercial Driver’s License by more than 10 percent from $75 to $67.
  • Reduction in Traffic Citation Fines to Save Floridians $4 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to reinstate the 18 percent reduction of eligible traffic citation fines, which was repealed in 2009 prior to Governor Scott taking office, for individuals who attend a basic driver improvement school.

Florida Leaders Applaud Gov. Scott’s Signing of $180 Million Tax Cut Package

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Governor Rick Scott today signed HB 7109, the “Tax Cut Package” which will cut $180 million in taxes for Florida families and businesses. This brings the total of taxes cut since Governor Scott has been in office to $6.7 billion. Here’s what Florida leaders are saying:
Senate President Joe Negron said, “I am pleased to see this comprehensive tax relief package become law. Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature have worked together for the last several years to reduce the tax burden facing Florida families and businesses in a broad-based and meaningful way. This good bill furthers that commitment.”
House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “I’m grateful to all the members of the Florida House for their hard work on HB 7109 and to Governor Scott for signing it into law today. This tax cut package is a big win for every Floridian. It means real money back into the hands of families and businesses.”
Bryan Koon, Director of Florida Division of Emergency Management, said, “This tax cut will ensure that folks can obtain everything they need in order to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. I encourage all Floridians to take advantage of this great opportunity and save money while building their disaster supply kits.”
Tom Feeney, President and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, said, “I’d like to thank Governor Scott for his commitment to keeping Florida competitive and making it easier for businesses to thrive in our state. The reduction in the business rent tax will help Florida job creators continue to grow so they create even more opportunities for families across the Sunshine State.”
Bill Herrle, Executive Director of the National Federation of Independent Business said, “I applaud Governor Scott for signing this important bill to help Florida businesses thrive in our state. Every tax cut allows our job creators to reinvest more of their hard-earned money into growing their businesses and creating more jobs for our families, which is great news for our entire state.”
Frank Walker, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said, “The signing of this year’s tax package marks the first step in what we hope will be the eventual complete elimination of the business rent tax. With his signature today, Governor Rick Scott once again demonstrated his commitment to reducing the tax burden on Florida families and local businesses.”
Florida Retail Federation President & CEO R. Scott Shalley said, “We are grateful to Governor Scott for signing these important tax measures that will allow retailers, consumers, and other businesses to see their money stretch farther and help grow this economy. The .2 percent reduction in the business rent tax will allow small businesses to keep more of their own revenue, allowing them to reinvest those funds and create jobs. The 3-day sales tax holiday for disaster preparedness will encourage both consumers and retailers to properly prepare for and purchase the supplies they need in the event of a hurricane, or other natural disaster. Lastly, the 3-day sales tax holiday for back-to-school is always incredibly successful as families are able to purchase more of the supplies their children need for the upcoming school year including expensive technology such as computers and tablets. All three of these tax relief measures will provide significant economic benefits to Florida families and business owners, and we thank Governor Scott for signing this important legislation into law.”
Maria Wells, 2017 President of the Florida Realtors, said, “I applaud Governor Scott for signing this bill and making these tax cuts a reality for Florida families. From a Realtor perspective, I am particularly excited about the first-ever cut to the business rent tax. The business community has been working to advance this tax cut for several years and this is a tremendous success for Florida Realtors and the entire Business Rent Tax Coalition. When businesses grow, communities prosper.”
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “I’d like to thank Governor Scott for signing HB 7109 into law today. This tax package is a win for state taxpayers, reducing their tax burden and allowing them to make their own decisions on how their hard-earned money is spent. The package addresses the onerous business rent tax, a long-standing TaxWatch recommendation, which is the only statewide sales tax on commercial leases in the nation and establishes beneficial sales tax holidays for back-to-school and disaster preparedness.”
3Cinteractive Founder and CEO John Duffy said, “We as a Florida based business are thankful that Governor Scott signed this bill today. We are glad that the Governor is cutting taxes for commercial leases, as this will help our business invest money back into our community”.

Business Leaders Applaud Gov. Scott’s “Fighting for Florida’s Future” $618 Million Tax Cut Package

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Governor Rick Scott announced today that he is proposing $618 million in tax cuts to help Florida families and small businesses, and ensure taxes are cut for Florida’s future generations. These tax cuts will encourage job creators to add more jobs and build opportunities now and in the future. Here’s what Florida business leaders are saying:
Erin Meagher, Founder of Beneficial Blends, said, “Beneficial Blends is proud of our commitment to the Tampa Bay area and we are constantly working to add more Floridians to our dynamic team. With two locations currently under a commercial lease, Governor Scott’s proposed tax cut would allow us to invest more in growing our company and creating new opportunities. Reducing the tax on commercial leases would certainly help our business and many others that may consider setting up manufacturing facilities in Florida, and I look forward to seeing it passed this year.”
Richard Scherzer, Co-Owner of About Floors N More, “Governor Scott truly understands small business and is dedicated to fighting on behalf of the many small businesses and the families they employ across the state. About Floors N More pays commercial lease taxes on all three of our properties, and the Governor’s proposed tax cut would help our business invest more money in growing and creating opportunities in Jacksonville. We were excited to welcome Governor Scott to our business today and look forward to seeing these tax cuts passed.”
Gerry Angeli, President & General Manager of ACR Electronics, Inc. a Drew Marine Company, said, “For five decades ACR Electronics has believed there is no better place than Florida, the boating capital of the world, to build emergency beacons for boaters designed and manufactured to make sure they come home safely every time. As a proud Florida manufacturer and job creator, we appreciate Governor Scott’s ongoing commitment to cutting taxes and making it easier for businesses, like ours, to invest more in growing our company. Governor Scott’s proposed $618 million tax cut package is great news for our company and our many employees and we are excited to support it.”
Bill Herrle, Executive Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said, “We know from talking to job creators across the state and the nation that the tax on commercial leases puts Florida at a competitive disadvantage. Governor Scott has demonstrated an incredible commitment to doing everything possible to make it easier for businesses to succeed, and these recommended tax cuts are critical to ensuring continued economic growth. NFIB is proud to fully support this proposal and we look forward to the Legislature cutting $618 million in taxes this year.”
Randy Miller, Florida Retail Federation President and CEO, said, “Governor Scott’s ‘Fighting for Florida’s Future’ tax cut package includes a number of cuts which will significantly support Florida’s retailers, including a reduction in the business rent tax, cutting the business tax and an expanded back-to-school sales tax holiday, among others. FRF is excited about what the Governor’s tax cut package will mean for growing Sunshine State businesses, creating new jobs for Florida families and ensuring our state remains competitive.”
David Hart, Executive Vice President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said, “Every step we take to make Florida more business-friendly means more job creators choosing to move to and reinvest in our state. Governor Scott’s recommended $618 million tax cut package will help businesses large and small invest more in creating jobs for our families and will help ensure Florida’s economy will continue to grow well into the future. We are fighting to make our state the best place for job creators and families to succeed and the Florida Chamber of Commerce will continue to work with Governor Scott and the Legislature this year to support this tax cut package.”
Tom Feeney, President and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, said, “Governor Scott’s proposed $618 million tax cut package truly fights for both job creators and families across the state. Over the past few years, we have seen the exciting impact tax cuts have had on helping businesses move to and grow in our state, as well as the importance of helping Floridians keep more of their hard-earned money. In order to continue to help our economy grow, we must remain committed to lowering the cost of doing business, and reducing the business rent tax will surely help us meet that goal. AIF is proud to join Governor Scott in fighting for Florida’s future by supporting the passage of $618 million in tax cuts.”
2017 Florida Realtors® President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart, said, “Reducing the tax businesses pay for commercial leases will make an incredible difference for job creators across the state. For small businesses especially, this tax can prevent companies from being able to invest more, which in turn creates new opportunities for families in their communities. Florida’s Realtors stand ready to work with Gov. Scott to advocate for his $618 million tax cut package during the 2017 legislative session.”
Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor of the Florida College System, said, “The Governor’s proposal to cut $618 million in taxes, especially exempting college textbooks from the sales tax, is great news for Florida families and students. This is incredibly important to ensuring our students have all the resources they need to exceed in college and beyond.”
Tom Kuntz, Chair of the Florida Board of Governors, said, “As Chair of the Florida Board of Governors, I am thrilled that Governor Scott’s ‘Fighting for Florida’s Future’ tax cut package includes providing a one-year sales tax exemption on college textbooks. This will help students across the state save millions of dollars and allow them to focus more on getting a great education. I join Governor Scott in fighting for the future of our students and we are proud to support these proposed tax cuts”
Bobby Carbonell, Executive Director of Florida is for Veterans, Inc., said, “A veteran himself, Governor Scott has been committed to making Florida the most military-friendly state in the nation. The proposed sales tax holidays, especially the three-day veteran’s sales tax holiday, is great news for the many military members, and their families, who call Florida their home. Florida is for Veterans Inc. is honored to support Governor Scott’s $618 million tax cut package, and we will continue to work with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure Florida remains the most military-friendly state for years to come.”

Gov. Scott: Fighting for Florida’s Future With $618 Million Tax Cut Package

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Kicking Off “Fighting for Florida’s Future” Tax Cut Tour

Governor Rick Scott announced today during the “Fighting for Florida’s Future” Tax Cut Tour that he is proposing $618 million in tax cuts to help Florida families and small businesses, and ensure taxes are cut for Florida’s future generations. These tax cuts will encourage job creators to add more jobs and build opportunities now and in the future. This morning, Governor Scott kicked off the “Fighting for Florida’s Future” Tax Cut Tour in Jacksonville and will be making stops in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Riviera Beach, Orlando and Fort Myers this week.
Governor Scott said, “While Florida’s economy has made great strides over the past six years, we have to continue to fight for Florida’s future and ensure our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to succeed in our great state. We know one of the best ways to do that is to keep cutting taxes, and even though we have already cut more than $6.5 billion in taxes, we can do more. That is why I am fighting for Florida families and our future generations by recommending to cut taxes by $618 million this year.
“When we cut taxes, it helps businesses create jobs – jobs that ultimately help the poorest, most disadvantaged families in our state. As I travel the state, I have been humbled by the stories of single parents, young students, new citizens and countless other Floridians who have shared with me how much of a difference a job has made in their life and in the lives of their families. These incredible stories are why we are fighting to secure a bright future for Florida, and cutting taxes will help make our state the top location for job creators to invest in for generations to come. I made a promise to keep fighting for jobs until my very last day as Governor, and I ask the Legislature to join me in fighting for the future of our students, our small businesses, our veterans and our families by cutting $618 million in taxes this year.”
Governor Scott’s “Fighting for Florida’s Future” tax cut package includes:

  • Decreasing the Tax on Business Rents by $454 Million – Florida is the only state that has a tax on commercial leases which unfairly targets small businesses. Governor Scott is proposing to reduce the tax on commercial leases by 25 percent in 2018, saving Florida businesses $454 million a year.
  • Sales Tax Holidays to Save Families and Veterans $98 Million – Governor Scott is proposing four sales tax holidays which will save Florida families and veterans an estimated $98 million in the upcoming fiscal year. These sales tax holidays include:

$72 million from a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday;
$7 million from a nine-day disaster preparedness sales tax holiday;
$18.4 million from a three-day veteran’s sales tax holiday; and
$500,000 from a one-day camping and fishing sales tax holiday.

  • Providing a One-Year Sales Tax Exemption on College Textbooks to Save Students $48 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to exempt the purchase of college textbooks from the sales tax for the 2017-18 academic year. The prices of college textbooks have increased significantly, often exceeding $100 per book. Exempting college textbooks from the sales tax is expected to save Florida students $48 million.
  • Cutting the Business Tax to Save Job Creators $15 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to exempt 22.5 percent of businesses from having to pay income taxes by increasing the corporate tax exemption from $50,000 to $75,000. Eliminating this tax will provide annual savings of $15 million and help more small businesses hire additional workers.  This proposal will eliminate these taxes for more than 80 percent of Florida’s businesses. This exemption was increased from $5,000 to $25,000 in 2011 and $50,000 in 2012.
  • Exempting School Book Fairs from the Sales Tax to Save Families and Students $3 Million – Governor Scott is proposing to exempt the purchases of books at school book fairs from the sales tax, saving Florida families $3 million each year.