By David Royse, The News Service Of Florida

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 8, 2012……Businesses would see a much smaller increase in their unemployment compensation tax because the state would take longer to pay back a loan to Washington under legislation passed Thursday by the House and sent to Gov. Rick Scott.

The tax paid by businesses for unemployment benefits was scheduled to go up to about $171 per employee, but if signed into law, the bill (HB 7027) would reduce that to about $121 per worker.

“If you believe in job creation, you must support this,” Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, said before the House voted 108-11 in favor of the bill, with a Senate amendment that included the main provision.

When unemployment claims spiked in Florida as the economy tanked, the unemployment compensation trust fund dropped into the red and Florida had to borrow money from the federal government to pay jobless benefits.

The bill would delay the state’s repayment schedule, stretching it out to five years instead of three. That will mean the state’s employers will eventually be on the hook for more interest, but the bill’s sponsor in the House, Rep. Mike Horner, said it was a small price to pay down the road to avoid a much larger hit now.

The measure also reduces the wage base for calculating the unemployment tax from $8,500 to $8,000 per worker.

Together, the changes would save businesses $800 million over three years, said Horner, R-Kissimmee.

In 2011, businesses paid about $72 per employee for unemployment, so the tax will still increase, but the savings of about $50 per worker over the projected increase will make a big difference, business groups said.

“This tax reduction will have a direct impact on Florida jobs, allowing businesses to avoid a major cost increase and maintain payrolls,” said Rick McAllister, CEO of the Florida Retail Federation.

Some members, however, said they were disappointed that the state would be just putting off paying back Washington. Eventually, that cost will hit employers, they said.

“We’re just kicking the can down the road,” said Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston.