GOVERNOR AGGRESSIVE WITH VETO PEN BUT STATE BUDGET STILL REACHES RECORD LEVELS

Thursday was the day of decision for Governor Jeb Bush, who was active in his use of the line item veto in rejecting nearly $449 million in spending. While the amount is nearly 25% more then his previous record set last year, it's still a drop in the bucket compared to what will be a state budget of $73.9 billion.

Among the vetoed projects affecting Polk County:

--- A $2 million grant for nursing education at the United Methodist Church-affiliated Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

--- $600,000 was Polk's share of a $2.5 million reading programme that would have served several counties.

--- $500,000 for the Florida Future Farmers of America leadership, education, and training centre in Haines City.

--- $75,000 for the Polk County business incubator programme, which would have been based in the eastern portion of the county to provide information and mentoring for fledging or start up businesses.

--- $50,000 for the Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine programme which provides health care to the working uninsured of the Lakeland area. The money would have been used to update it's record system so that it can better keep up with their patients.

Overall, Polk County came out rather well compared to other areas.