Scott's budget plan adds school funding

In a dramatic turnaround from last year, Gov. Rick Scott cited education as Florida's top priority and called for an additional $1 billion in state funding for schools.

School districts are struggling to cope with increased enrollment and a drop in local tax dollars.

The extra dollars will give the state $9.5 billion to spend on education next year, Scott said Wednesday during a news conference to unveil his proposed 2012-13 budget.

Per-student spending will rise by $110 for each of the state's nearly 2.7 million public school students, he said.

A bigger investment in education also will help Florida create more jobs and improve the local economy, two more priorities the governor said he heard about from residents during his past year in office.

"Education and jobs are inseparable," Scott said.

Last year Scott was criticized for slashing the education budget by $1.3 billion — $100 million alone in Hillsborough County — in addition to other reforms aimed at teachers and state workers.

Local education leaders, who were preparing for even more cuts this legislative session, are optimistic about the move.

"I really appreciate the fact that the governor has taken the position that education is important in this state," said Hillsborough's Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, who met with Scott and other school district superintendents Tuesday in Tallahassee.

"It's one of the first questions people ask when they move here," she said. "How will my child be educated in the state of Florida?"

Others were hopeful, but cautious.

"We certainly appreciate the support of the Governor and look forward to working with the Legislature in order to secure increased levels of funding after four consecutive years of multi-million dollar shortfalls," Pasco County's Superintendent Heather Fiorentino responded in an email.

But, she added, "our school district has an urgent financial need and will continue to advocate for the restoration of funding that is needed to appropriately fund a high quality education for every child."

Pasco's state funding was cut by $44 million this fiscal year, but that included $32 million in temporary federal stimulus money that administrators knew wouldn't be available.

Teachers' representatives were quick to point out that Scott's proposal still doesn't allow Florida to properly fund education.

"We're inching back to restore what he cut last year," said Jean Clements, president of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association.

Cuts this fiscal year resulted in about $542 less in per-pupil spending, Clements said.

Florida currently spends about $6,230 per pupil, according to the state, putting it near the bottom for student spending, Clements said.

"It's heading in the right direction," she said, "… but not to where we were even four years ago."

Florida Education Association spokesman Mark Pudlow said Scott's proposal "seeks to put a smiley face on the massive budget cuts of the past few years and ignores the realities that our children aren't getting the education they need.

"The governor's budget proposal is miles away from a real investment in public education."

Hillsborough School Board Chairwoman Candy Olson held out hope that the additional dollars could go toward restoring programs, such as art, that were limited due to budget cuts.

She also wants to see some of the money pay for beefed-up staffing.

"I would look to put some more social workers back in our schools," Olson said, acknowledging that the tough times have affected children, as well.

"We'll see what the Legislature does," she said. "Maybe this will allow us to take a deep breath."

Scott's request is part of a $66.4 billion budget proposal, $4.6 billion less than last fiscal year.

State lawmakers will use the governor's recommendations as a building block for next year, a heated election year where all 160 legislators will be on the ballot.

But while the governor has a new fervor for schools, he still wants another round of tax cuts — especially for small businesses.

In order to pay for more school funding and tax cuts, Scott said he will ask that legislators slash other items, including Medicaid, the safety-net health care program.

He also will push to reduce prison populations and continue reforms to state pensions and other state benefits.

"I was elected to make the tough choices," Scott said.

Scott and the GOP-controlled Legislature are facing a nearly $2 billion budget shortfall next year because tax revenues are not growing as fast as hoped and because of increasing costs in Medicaid.

The state is also looking at an expected increase of 30,000 additional public school students and an ongoing drop in property values. Property taxes are a big source of money for public schools.

"I see this as a big win for our K-12 system," said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson.

But it all depends on legislators.

Scott threw down the gauntlet at his press conference, advising that they listen to Floridians, like he did, and warning them: "I will not sign a budget that does not significantly increase funding for education."