The size of state government continues to shrink under Gov. Rick Scott. The state budget that goes into effect in July eliminates thousands of government jobs.

Part of Gov. Scott's mission is to grow jobs. But the state budget he signed this week cuts almost 3,400 jobs from the public sector.“I want to keep the cost of government in Florida as low as possible", Scott said.

Scott told reporters this is the smallest and least expensive state government in a dozen years when you account for inflation and population growth.

"My understanding is we have the lowest number of state workers per capita in the country", Scott said. "I'm proud of that.”

The cuts will be felt throughout the state. Most of them are in the Department of Corrections, where positions in health services are being turned over to private vendors. And many of the positions being eliminated are already vacant.

Scott has been cutting government jobs since he took office two and half years ago.