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Crist Budget Relies On Stimulus Money To Plug Shortfall

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2009

Updated: 02/20/2009 04:26 pm

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist released a proposal this afternoon that relies on billions of federal stimulus dollars to boost state spending by $1 billion next fiscal year.

The $66.5 billion budget includes $3.2 billion of federal stimulus money for the current fiscal year and $4.7 billion in 2009-10, which begins in July.

"Without the federal stimulus funds, Florida's 2009-10 budget would have dropped to $61.8 billion and required drastic reductions and deep cuts to important programs and projects," the governor's office said in a statement.

Included in Crist's plan is a recommendation to increase the operating budget for K-12 public schools by $183 per student -- a 2.67 percent increase -- to $7,044 per student. That plan anticipates that Florida will be able to claim its share of education money in the stimulus package -- an issue that remains in question, given rules that the federal government is still in the process of setting for eligibility among states for those dollars.

It also assumes that lawmakers will ratify the compact Crist forged with the Seminole Tribe in 2007 that guarantees the state at least $100 million a year in exchange for exclusive rights to offer certain games at their casinos. The state Supreme Court ruled last year that the governor lacked authority to sign the compact without legislative approval; lawmakers are now contemplating whether to ratify the deal or proposal a new one.

Crist would increase various user fees for state services by more than $100 million, but proposes an array of property-tax cuts.

Other highlights from the budget plan:

Higher Education

* $3.6 billion for state universities and medical schools, a rise of $191.2 million, or a 5.6 percent increase.

* $1.8 billion for community colleges and their baccalaureate degree programs, a rise of $146.8 million, or an 8.8 percent increase.

* $564 million for postsecondary workforce education within school districts, a rise of $2.5 million, or a 4.6 percent increase.

Transportation

* $5.1 billion to build and maintain roads, bridges and public transportation facilities

* $1.4 billion provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will go toward shovel-ready projects that can be initiated within 180 days, creating or retaining an additional 24,200 jobs.

Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development

* $157.1 million for the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, which will create or retain 43,291 jobs.

Health and Human Services

* An increase of $45 million for cash assistance program and food stamps,

* $294 million for the Meds AD (Medicaid for the Aged and Disabled) Program to restore 12 months of Medicaid health care coverage for 13,000 elderly and disabled individuals.

* $470 million for the Medically Needy Program to restore 12 months of Medicaid health care coverage for 21,000 individuals who have extremely high medical bills in relation to their annual income.

* $52 million for increased enrollment in the KidCare program to support an additional 46,000 children.

Public Safety

* $4.9 billion to support prisons population, reduce recidivism, prevent juvenile crime and keep violent criminals off the streets.

Report Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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