Gov. Scott in P.C.: Cut sales tax on machinery // photo gallery, video

PANAMA CITY — By cutting taxes and offering some teachers $10,000 summer jobs, a stronger economy may be in store for future generations under the governor’s job creation plan announced Tuesday.

“We want our children and our grandchildren to live in the great state of Florida,” Gov. Rick Scott said. “That’s why we’re going to permanently get rid of the sales tax on machinery equipment, put money in to make sure we have training for STEM occupations and make sure we continue to focus on ports like this, to make sure we have a lot more jobs here.”

Scott stopped by Port Panama City to talk about his plan to permanently end the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment and to offer Florida STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teachers paid internships at private-sector companies.

The visit is part of his two-week statewide “Jobs for the Next Generation” tour and campaign for re-election.

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Ending the sales tax will save manufacturing companies more than $140 million annually, according to Scott.

“I want to make it permanent so companies like Oceaneering, when they buy equipment, they can make a long-term commitment to our state,” Scott said.

Oceaneering is a global company headquartered in Houston that operates a base at Port Panama City. The company specializes in providing engineering services and products for the oil and gas industry.

The Legislature already had approved eliminating sales tax on manufacturing equipment through 2017; Scott’s proposal would end the sales tax indefinitely.

Oceaneering International general manager Bob Patterson pointed to a new $13 million carousel, a piece of machinery that stores umbilical cables, which are lifelines that provide electrical, hydraulic and fiber-optic functions from the platform to the sea floor. The carousel cost the company more than $600,000 in sales taxes, he said.

“The elimination of that tax is going to drive more infrastructure investment in this organization so that we can grow the business,” Patterson said. “We have competition here, in Mobile, in Houston, so it’s important for us to be on top of the game as far as technical abilities and be ahead of that. And to do that, you have to continue to reinvest in the business.”

Offering “highly effective” teachers paid residency internships at private-sector companies would inspire them to promote STEM to their students, according to Scott.

Under the plan, teachers would receive a $10,000 stipend from the state and participating companies would be encouraged to offer teachers additional compensation.

“He’s making sure our ports are competitive,” Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, told the small audience.

“We know in Northwest Florida we have to work together to accomplish things,” Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, said, endorsing the governor’s proposal. Scott “gets that he can’t ignore any part of the state.”

In addition to ending the sales tax and hiring teachers, Scott’s plan includes: removing regulations for new industries, investing $30 million in workforce training initiatives for STEM occupations, providing incentives for colleges to create $10,000 STEM degrees and making Florida a cancer research and treatment hub.