Florida Gov. puts conditions on state money at Citrus Department

Florida Department of Citrus officials have learned that the $7.65 million of state general revenue it will get in the new 2016-17 budget comes with strings attached.

Gov. Rick Scott set several conditions for the Citrus Department's use of that state money in a letter he sent Tuesday. Among them is an extraordinary request that his office review any contracts using general revenue dollars “to ensure transparency and competitive procurements,” according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Ledger.

Scott also appeared to endorse a significant downsizing of the Citrus Department along the lines suggested in a Feb. 15 letter from a dozen of the state's largest growers. It called for a roughly 70 percent reduction, including elimination of its core marketing programs, in the department's 2016-17 budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Both the governor's and the growers' letters were addressed to the Florida Citrus Commission, the department's governing body. Scott appoints all nine commissioners.

Source: www.theledger.com