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Florida Gov. Scott's final budget includes boost for schools

Posted at 1:08 PM, Nov 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-14 13:08:18-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants more money to be spent on schools and the environment next year while at the same time asking for a small cut in taxes and fees.

Scott on Tuesday released a recommended $87 billion budget that he wants legislators to approve during the annual session that starts in January.

This is Scott's final budget request since the Republican governor is leaving office in early 2019 due to term limits.

Scott's budget would boost the amount spent on each public school student by nearly 3 percent, or $200 more a year.

But the governor wants to use a rise in local property values to help pay for it. House leaders have called that a tax increase in the past.