Gov. Rick Scott signs $82 billion 2016-2017 budget into law

Gov. Rick Scott signed the $82 billion state budget into law Thursday, vetoing about $256.1 million in projects across the state.

In a statement, Scott touted this budget as giving “record amounts of funding” to K-12 and higher education systems, Florida springs protection and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

“When we cut taxes and make government more efficient, Florida families and companies prosper, jobs are created, state tax revenues increase and we have the opportunity to invest in areas that are important to Florida families -- like our education system, our environment and keeping our communities safe and healthy.”

More than $8 million was vetoed in southwest Florida projects including an updated an insulation system at the Florida SouthWestern State College and three stormwater management and sidewalk projects in Cape Coral, among other projects. All of Scott’s planned vetoes to the state budget were announced earlier this week.

The state budget will take effect July 1 and will expire June 30, 2017.