TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Crist Offers School Budget To Ease Tax Cut Worries

ADVERTISEMENT

By CATHERINE DOLINSKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Critics of the property tax cut plan on the Jan. 29 ballot panned Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal on Thursday to increase K-12 school funding by $1 billion next year, describing it as a gimmick to convince voters that approving Amendment 1 will not harm Florida's schools.

Crist himself acknowledged releasing the plan in time to reassure voters, but said the plan demonstrates his true commitment to fully funding education.

The governor's plan would use state money to restore completely the $138 million that schools would lose in 2008-09 if Amendment 1 passes. Crist's total $33.5 billion education budget, which covers both K-12 and higher education, also provides $467 million for merit-based teacher bonuses, boosts per-student funding by 5.46 percent to $7,606 and pays $6.5 million more than last year for reading coaches and tutors.

Overall, the budget increases education funding $186 million.

What Crist's proposal leaves out is any means of paying for those increases in a year when lawmakers will have to reconcile a $2.5 billion shortfall this year and next. Those details will appear in the governor's complete budget for 2008-09, which he must produce by Feb. 4.

Asked how he would pay for his plan, Crist responded only that "we're trying to prioritize spending," and that education is "incredibly important ... we'll get to the other parts later."

House Minority Leader Dan Gelber called the governor's plan for schools a "fantasy" that would likely bear little resemblance to what lawmakers pass.

"I think this education budget he put out today was really just an attempt to mollify concerns that a yes vote on Jan. 29 is going to hurt education," said Gelber, D-Miami Beach, who opposes the property tax amendment. "And of course, it will hurt education. And I think what he put out today, it shouldn't be lost on anybody that he only put out the education piece. The rest of the budget is going to come out after people vote on Jan. 29, apparently."

Crist Offers Budget As Context

Crist acknowledged on Thursday his desire to provide context for the effect of Amendment 1, which appears on the ballot this week through Jan. 29. The proposed amendment, which would double the homestead exemption and make the Save Our Homes benefit portable, would cost schools $1.6 billion over five years by shrinking the property tax base.

"I think that by announcing this part of the budget first, I hope it does give some reassurance for people who may be concerned about the amendment," he said.

Lawmakers, he said, have demonstrated their commitment to education by shielding school revenues from several key tax-cutting provisions in Amendment 1.

Crist's proposal came one day after he toured the state to promote Amendment 1, which businesses and Realtors are supporting but the state teachers union and other public employee groups are campaigning against. By Thursday afternoon, supporters of Amendment 1 were touting Crist's education plan in their news releases.

"As a former education commissioner, Governor Crist has a long history of supporting educators and Florida's students," said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who chairs the "Yes on 1" campaign. "This budget recommendation protects students, teachers and schools and ensures that local education funding is protected."

Former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco declared in the same statement that "Florida students will continue to receive a quality education" while homeowners receive tax cuts, thanks to Crist's proposal.

Teachers Call It 'Desperation'

Mark Pudlow, spokesman for the state teachers union, called Crist's plan for schools "a desperation play."

"All we've heard this year from the governor and legislature is 'there's no money,'" Pudlow said. "It just strikes us as another promise, and one that gives us great concerns."

Gelber noted that although Crist is proposing to spend more on schools next year, his plan actually includes less state money and imposes a greater proportionate share of the burden on localities. The required local funding for K-12 education operating costs, traditionally funded by property taxes, would rise by $357 million to nearly $9.4 billion.

Asked about the feasibility of Crist's education budget, Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller roared with laughter.

Given the severity of the budget crunch, said Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, "There's going to be blood on the floor this session."

Joe Pickens, R-Palatka, who chairs the House Schools and Learning Council, said restoring school revenues lost to Amendment 1 will be a priority for lawmakers this year.

Crist's plan to boost total K-12 dollars by $1 billion, and total education dollars by $186 million, is "a beautiful budget," said Pickens, which he would love to pass during this, his final year in the Legislature.

How to do that, he said, remains unseen. "I just would like to know what sources of revenue are going to allow us to devote that much general revenue to the education budget, given the financial forecasts that the revenue estimating conferences continue to produce."

Senate President Ken Pruitt would not comment on Crist's plan, other than saying lawmakers would consider the recommendations carefully. "This is the first piece of the puzzle," said Hillsborough Schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, noting that Senate and House proposals will follow. "There's always compromise. We're going to be working very closely with our legislators."

Reporter Marilyn Brown contributed to this report. Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or cdolinski@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT