The number one priority of my administration has been to ensure Floridians have new opportunities to find a great job, provide for their loved ones and achieve their dreams in our great state. Every day, we are working to make Florida the most business friendly state in the nation by cutting taxes, streamlining regulations and investing in education.
We’ve cut taxes over 50 times, including over $400 million this year. We’ve eliminated the sales tax on manufacturing equipment so companies can expand more easily. We’ve cut over 3,200 burdensome regulations and streamlined the permitting process. By doing these things, we’ve put Florida job creators on a path towards success.
The results of our pro-business policies have been clear. Since December 2010, Florida businesses have added 917,400 private-sector jobs, our unemployment rate has dropped to 5.4%, and last year we surpassed New York to become the third largest state. Florida’s housing prices are up, our crime rate is at a 44-year low, we had a record 98 million tourists visit our state in 2014, and businesses from across the globe are relocating to the Sunshine State.
We know that an ideal tax climate is not the only thing needed to make a company successful. Our focus on cutting taxes and expanding economic opportunity has also allowed us to make record investments in education while holding the line on tuition to make college more affordable. We’ve had two consecutive years of record K-12 education funding, nearly all of our colleges offer $10,000 degrees, and we are emphasizing degrees that focus on the needs of job creators across our state. In 2014, over 60,000 students received a degree from our universities, and over 18,000 of those were in STEM-related fields. More than 100,000 graduated from our colleges during that time. We are preparing our students in the classroom today for the jobs of tomorrow to ensure we have the most advanced workforce that meets the demands of the global job market.
Florida is ideally positioned to be the global hub for business. We have 15 seaports, which we have invested over $850 million in over the last four years. We have 19 airports, which generate over 3,400 arrivals and departures each day. Miami International Airport ranks second in the country for most international arrivals and departures. Florida’s strong transportation system gives companies a competitive advantage on a global scale.
We’ve worked hard to create a pro-business climate in Florida because thriving industries create jobs and more opportunities for Florida families. By cutting taxes, streamlining regulation, providing historic levels of education funding and holding the line on tuition, we are creating more opportunities for families to live their dreams. These strategies are creating the ideal business climate in Florida, and we will keep working to make Florida the best state in the nation for business.
Rick Scott, Governor
Chairman, Enterprise Florida Inc.