TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Rick Scott said he hopes Florida lawmakers will come up with some extra cash for the state agency that serves disabled people across the state.
Two weeks ago, Scott ordered the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to reduce its payments for services to Floridians with disabilities.
That has prompted protests across the state, but Scott argues the spending cut is necessary because the agency is running a deficit of about $175 million.
On Tuesday, the governor met with employees of the agency and answered their questions.
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities has been going over budget for several years and Scott says it's time to make it live within its budget.
"It's real frustrating to come to office and within the first three months have to do an emergency order to figure out how we get a handle so we don't run out of money before the end of the fiscal year. So hopefully, we'll see if the Legislature will give us some emergency funding. But we have to live within our means."
Scott said the state could restore full reimbursement to medical providers if lawmakers set aside enough money, but he says the agency will not be allowed to go over budget in the future.
"This was the worst year being $174 million over. That's been going on since the agency started and so we've got to come up with a funding mechanism and a management team that's going to make sure we take care of this very vulnerable group of people, but also make sure we live within our means."
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities provides care to about 35,000 disabled people.
First Coast News