Letter+from+the+governor

  From: GAETZ.DON.WEB [[|mailto:GAETZ.DON.WEB@flsenate.gov]] Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 1:20 PM To: Gaines, Dodi Subject: RE: Florida's Education Crisis

Thanks very much for your email and for sharing your thoughts regarding the serious national and international financial crisis which is affecting our state and, consequently, education funding at the state and local levels.

I certainly agree with you that a child's education is very difficult to postpone or cut back. That's why for 32 years in a row per pupil education funding has increased year over year. It has only been now -- when all of us are experiencing the impact of the worst economic downturn in a generation -- that funding has been reduced. The reason is not a lack of interest or commitment in education but the fact that our state constitution requires spending to be reduced dollar for dollar with revenue reductions. And, as I'm sure you know, state revenues have already declined by $10 billion in the last 30 months with more declines inevitable as the economy worsens.

Aside from the historically bad economy, one of the other reasons there are less dollars for education is because there are nearly 40,000 fewer students in K-12 public schools than in 2005-2006. When student enrollment drops, funding drops because taxpayers are understandably reluctant to pay schools to educate students who are no longer there. The enrollment decline, by itself, accounts for about $280 million in reduced funding for public schools.

As a lifelong advocate for public education, I can't respond to your email with vague promises which can't be kept or by blaming someone else. The truth is that there won't be more money for education until the economy improves. The truth is that as long as the economy continues to worsen, there will be less money for schools, health care, services for the elderly and children, law enforcement and every other public purpose. The Governor is discussing pay reductions and give-backs from state employees who, by the way, have not had any increase in compensation (no STEP, no raise) for two years already.

My own view is that the least policy-makers should do is provide as much budgetary flexibility as possible. What resources are available should be able to be deployed -- within reason -- as is best determined locally. That's why I favor reducing categorical funding restrictions at the federal, state and local levels. Last year I sponsored and the Legislature passed the "High Performing School Districts Act" which allows districts with strong academic and financial management records more freedom to decide how to use funds. This session I'll do all I can to expand that legislation.

Among my Senate assignments this year is to serve as Chair of the Select Committee on Florida's Economy. Of course, Florida can't come out of this recession alone and government doesn't create prosperity. But the job of our committee is to eliminate those obstacles under state control or influence which may be inhibiting businesses from surviving or growing and to emphasize those business incentives which could help Florida come out of this downturn sooner and stronger. There are no quick solutions or magic answers but our committee's job is to try to improve the odds for Florida businesses and families who generate the dollars which pay the taxes which support our schools and other critical public purposes. If you'd like, I will be pleased to keep you updated about our proposals.

Meanwhile, please accept my thanks -- as a parent -- for what you do every day. And please feel free to be in touch with me any time. Your comments, criticisms and guidance will help me do a better job in the Senate.

Respectfully,

Senator Don Gaetz All of the letters received from officials so far indicate 1. no intention or inclination to raise ANY taxes (citing economy) 2. they disagree that we are 50th in funding because they are not using //per capita// census figures. Read scans above.

Dear Ms. Crosby: Thank you for writing to Governor Charlie Crist regarding Florida’s budget situation. The Governor appreciates hearing your views and has asked that I respond on his behalf. The state’s Revenue Estimating Conference is predicting a significant shortfall for the current fiscal year. (http://edr.state.fl.us/conferences/generalrevenue/groutl.pdf) The Governor has looked at all options available to him to balance the budget, including cutting spending and using available trust fund reserves. His proposal included the following: ·  Cutting state spending by $561.5 million. ·  Taking $325.3 million from reserves. ·  Issuing $314 million in bonds for prison construction. ·  Using $88.9 million of unspent construction money. ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Pulling $290.3 million from the budget-stabilization fund. <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">· <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Symbol;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Borrowing $600 million from the Chiles Endowment. <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">· <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Symbol;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Tapping $135 million in new gambling revenues from Seminole casinos. At this time, the Governor is not supportive of any tax increase. Of course, the just completed special session has produced the Legislature’s proposal to fixing the shortfall; the Governor has reviewed it and signed it, but vetoed roughly $90 million in cuts. For details, please see: http://www.flgov.com/2009a_legislative_actions. The Governor’s Office is in the process of preparing the Governor’s recommendations for the fiscal year2009-10 budget. The Governor has asked for a delay in submission to be fully able to incorporate any stimulus money from the federal government. His budget will be released about February 13, 2009. One note about the list provided by you: Florida’s Constitution prohibits an Estate Tax, unless the federal government provides it as a credit against its tax; since there is no federal tax, there can be no state estate tax. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me by email at [|Christian.weiss@laspbs.state.fl.us] or by calling me at 850-487-0102. Again, on behalf of Governor Charlie Crist, thank you very much for your thoughts. Sincerely, Christian Weiss Chief Economist Office of Policy and Budget Governor Charlie Crist