Scott says no to Florida state park closures
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – Gov. Rick Scott has said no to the idea of closing some of Florida’s state parks as a cost-cutting measure.
Scott also defended his proposal to reduce spending by the state’s five water management districts through a 25 percent cut in their property taxes touring the Department of Environmental Protection’s headquarters in Tallahassee on Friday.
The department last fall proposed closing 53 of Florida’s 160 state parks as part of a budget-cutting exercise. The agency made similar proposals in the last two years, but no parks have closed.
Scott noted Florida’s state parks attract 20 million visitors every year and that they’re a two-time winner of the National Gold Medal for state parks awarded by National Recreation and Park Association.