Rick Scott: No more bonuses for employees at econ. development agencies

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Gov. Rick Scott says that the state’s two economic development organizations should stop paying bonuses to its employees.

Scott on Thursday put that idea in a letter he sent to the boards that oversee Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. Visit Florida promotes the state to tourists, while Enterprise Florida is responsible for trying to lure companies to the state.

Both agencies receive millions from taxpayers but have used private donations to pay bonuses. Both organizations have come under fire in the past year for spending.

The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Visit Florida paid nearly $441,000 in employee bonuses this summer. The bonuses were first approved by the agency board in May 2016 but were not paid out until July.

Enterprise Florida paid out bonuses last year but has not approved any for 2017

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.