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Proposed State Budget Cuts

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A Tribune Staff Report

Published: August 8, 2007

State agencies were asked to identify cuts of 10 percent of their individual budgets to help lawmakers determine where to reduce the state budget this year. The actual cuts aren't expected to be that dramatic. Here's how a 10 percent budget cut would affect some key Florida departments:

• The loss of $720 million from the Florida Education Finance Program, the per-student spending that funds schools' operating budgets

• The possibility that "year-and-a-day" inmates – those sentenced to the minimum for a state prison term -- would be turned loose, saving nearly $27 million

• Elimination of $20 million in funding for Alzheimer's research at the Byrd Center at the University of South Florida campus

Other proposed budget cuts include:

• $3.5 million for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Violent Crime and Drug Control Council, which helped fund major investigations by state and local law enforcement agencies. In 2006, the council helped 70 agencies with 74 cases at a cost of $2.6 million.

Potential impact: Would "limit FDLE's ability to assist local law enforcement with costly long range and protracted violent crime investigations."

• $376,362 by eliminating the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program.

Potential impact: "A large body of national research concludes that the program is ineffective…"

• $7.9 million, by reducing amount budgeted for the state's victims compensation program.

Potential impact: "A reduction will do a grave disservice to victims of crime and the facilities and organizations that serve victims…"

• $1.8 million toward the National Guard Tuition Assistance Program, which provides funds to Florida National Guard soldiers for undergraduate education.

Potential impact: "As long as deployment activities remain at current levels… this reduction will have little to no impact."

• $2.3 million from the About Face program that provides poor and at-risk youths with summer and after-school programs.

Potential impact: "Would result in the closure of one year-round after-school program affecting 190 youth and seven summer programs affecting 400 youth."

• $9.47 million by reducing the budgets of regional workforce boards that help people transition from welfare to work. Proposed Tampa Bay reductions: Hillsborough: $829,052; Pinellas: $487,264; Pasco and Hernando: $274,202; Polk: $273,703.

Potential impact: An increase in unemployment and an increase in the need for public assistance.

• $337,440, from the Commission on Human Relations, which is charged with enforcing the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act.

Potential impact: Personnel reductions would result in reassigning tasks to existing staff "who are already overburdened by staff cuts over the past three years…"

• $1.75 million by eliminating the 10-person Office of Efficient Government.

Potential impact: The office was created in 2006 to determine whether outsourcing services could reduce costs.

• $91,235 from the school crossing guard program that certifies trainers, inspects school crossing guard programs and school zones.

Potential impact: None if either the department of transportation or Florida Sheriff's Association takes over the responsibility and expense.

• $762,471 by renewing drivers licenses every eight years instead of every four or six years and increasing renewal fees by at least $5.

Potential impact: "There would be an increase in the number of customers waiting 15 minutes or less…There would be the potential for drivers with questionable driving ability to go longer without an office visit."

• $112,666 to close the Clearwater drivers license office. That would be one of several closed throughout the state.

Potential impact: Drivers would have to drive to the Pinellas Park office or to the tax collector's offices.

To see all departmental proposals, go to /www.flgov.com/requested_records

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