Scott signs bill to cut $210M in water taxes

Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Wednesday intended to cut property taxes paid to the state's water management districts, but the move also will likely to lead to job cuts among those working for the districts.

In a brief event at the South Florida Water Management District in West Palm Beach, the Republican governor ceremonially signed into law the estimated $210 million in tax cuts. The bill was actually signed last month.

The law requires the Legislature to annually review the budget and tax rate for each of the state's five water management districts and sets caps on the rate. Scott said, in effect, "the public will have a lot better handle on how their money is spent" and it holds the districts accountable.