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State Board Seeks $1.2 Billion For Schools

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The Associated Press

Published: August 20, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - The State Board of Education proposed an increase Tuesday of nearly $1.2 billion in spending for Florida's public schools and community colleges in the next budget year.

The panel also approved a federal pilot program to give the state more flexibility dealing with troubled schools. The board met via conference call after canceling its meeting because of Tropical Storm Fay.

The increase would boost the board's overall budget to $15.9 billion. That doesn't include the State University System, which has its own board.

The biggest part of the increase - $1 billion - is for kindergarten through 12th grade, lifting per student spending by $400, or 5.7 percent, to $7,397. It would make up for spending cuts - $316 per student - the Legislature made this past year due to falling tax revenues.

State economists forecast a general revenue drop of nearly $1.8 billion this budget year, which began July 1, and $2.2 billion next year.

The proposal goes to Gov. Charlie Crist, who will make his budget recommendations to the Legislature in early 2009.

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