More than $800,000 has been spent sprucing up the Florida governor’s mansion since Rick Scott took office in 2011. According to the Associated Press, taxpayers have covered $600,000 worth of improvements to the 57-year-old building, while another $200,000 worth of improvements were paid for by private donors, including special interest groups with business before the governor and Legislature.

US Sugar, Florida Crystals, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida each donated $100,000.

The CEO of private prison company The GEO Group, which runs two Florida penitentiaries, gave $20,000.Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant called the spending extravagant, saying there are better ways to spend taxpayer money.

"This governor is making $800,000 in renovations, redecorations, new Oriental rugs, bathrooms, kitchens", Tant said. "There are a lot of Florida families who would love to have an opportunity to have someone else pay for their renovations."

According to the state Department of Management Services, more than $440,000 was spent on mansion repairs during the Charlie Crist administration, and around $3 million under Jeb Bush.

Scott’s communications director also says the governor has paid for furniture and exercise equipment out of his personal funds.