Crist's budget priorities

Gov. Charlie Crist released the rest of his recommendations for a $70-billion budget today, which uses $740 million of trust funds and blows the constitutionally mandated 3 percent cap that limits using nonrecurring funds for recurring purposes. (Although his staff points out that the Legislature has blown that cap several times in recent years.)

Among some highlights, Crist suggests spending $12 billion in economic development, which would go to industries ranging from $100 million for alternative energies to $30 million for the film and entertainment industry. He also wants to spend $63.9 million to make low-cost health insurance options available to Florida’s uninsured population, but Buzz doesn't know much yet in the way of details about that. He also wants to spend $21.8 million to up reimbursement fees to dentists.

Comments

[A Greenspan]

"... nonrecurring funds for recurring purposes."

Abso-freaking-lutely priceless. A budgetary genius I tell you. A reglar chip off the ol’ Bush.

I must revise my prediction. Florida will be in the proverbial economic “crapper” within 8-months.

Economic development - how are we going to lure companies to Florida when we just voted to say any employee also moving to Florida doesn't matter...

Interesting how the dentists are uping their reimbursements but no plan to give anything to the MDs

The MDs don't need higher reimbursements right now (with the exception of maybe a handful of important but difficult to access procedures)... despite what the MDs will tell you. They have gotten several increases over the years, and the level they are at right now is fine. Dental care, on the other hand, is virtually nonexistent for Medicaid patients in much of the state that isn't a metropolis. And dental rates haven't seen a significant increase since I believe the 1970s or 80s.

I applaud the Governor for his recognition that in a tight budget year, increasing (actually, creating in most cases) access to dental care is a must do.

"which uses $740 million of trust funds and blows the constitutionally mandated 3 percent cap that limits using nonrecurring funds for recurring purposes. (Although his staff points out that the Legislature has blown that cap several times in recent years.)"

Translation: So... what's the "Constituion" thing I keep hearing about?... I mean, I get do do and say anything I want, right?... so long as the fools... echemmm.. I mean "The People" buy it!

[JR]

Maybe he's jealous of Cali and wants us to try and match their deficit.

I wonder when CA muni bonds will get downgraded to junk status. It isn't like they can afford to pay them all back.

[terminator]

raiding trust funds is what I predicted several weeks ago.

if anyone else tried to do this they'd be howling to the high heavens.

with teflon Charlie, I'm sure he'll get a pass and 60 some% poll ratings.

Floridians=lemmings

ps Oh, I'm sure Charlie's sycophant buddies in the Senate will go along!

[Will]

Termie,

That is supposed to happen. Govts are supposed to save in good budget years, to use those savings for bad budget years. Individuals are supposed to do that, and so are businesses, and so are governments.

If things pick up this year, within 2 years the trust fund will be replenished.

Crist's budget priorities:

1. Tanning Lotion for microwave bed
2. Airline tickets to anywhere but the office
3. Pay back private industry for A-1 campaign funding
4. Annual retainer for “Finger In The Air Consultants, Inc.”
5. Pay off boy-toy prostitute
6. More tanning lotion for the microwave bed
7. More airline tickets to anywhere but the office
8. Flowers for Marco
9. Grant monies for the St. Pete Times, cause they cover my butt
10. 10-pacs of the new flavor of Raman Noodles

2:54pm You pretty much hit right on with that post. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Brett Law]

In FY2002, Texas was facing record shortfalls. Gov. Rick Perry zeroed every budget and told every agency to justify every dollar, because they weren't raising taxes or deficit spending. Somehow they survived. Our governor, facing similar shortfalls, wants to increase handouts to movie producers and dentists.

Also, $740M is 1.05% of $70B. He really couldn't find and extra 1% savings? We could start with all that stuff listed in the blog post.

[Kim]

2008 taxes are 100% higher than 2001 taxes...how exactly is this a lean year?

"including $740 million taken from agency trust funds"

The money in a trust fund comes from FEES - people pay fees for their licenses, fees for their company's or the restaurant's license, fees for condominiums - and these FEES are used to cover the cost of inspections to make sure the individual or contractor or nursing home or condo complies with state law and covers the costs of prosecuting them when they don't - when they raid the trust fund there isn't sufficient money to adquately make sure that the individual or business is complying with the law.

Of course, no one would doubt that such individuals and businesses "do the right thing" out of the goodness of their hearts!!!!

Some would call the "raiding of the trust funds" stealing - or taxation without representation (same thing).

If Chuck spent a little time in the office, and maybe read a book or two on basic economics… he might just realize how ridiculous that budget really is.

Lord knows none of his "anything to keep my job" minions are going to tell him.

Do you actually think the man has even read his own budget? Why the hell would he do that he doesn't care about details.

... point.