No if's about the 4 percent spending holdback

Florida school officials held out hope that Gov. Charlie Crist's plan to hold back 4 percent of agencies' operating budgets the school districts might be spared. Lobbyists talked about the proposal in terms of "if" it will apply to public schools, rather than when.

Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith has put all doubts to rest with a memo to superintendents in which he tells them to budget accordingly.

I am recommending that school districts develop 2008-09 budgets that reflect contingency funding plans that reduce total Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) expenditures by approximately 2 percent in order to achieve a statewide reduction of 4 percent in state funding. Contingency plans for all other state funded programs, such as Workforce Development and Voluntary Prekindergarten, should continue to include an expenditure reduction of 4 percent. This will allow districts to maintain fiscal stability until the actual status of revenue collections is known.

To see the governor's office memo to agency directors outlining the hold back, click here.

Comments

[terminator]

12:26
poor endangered fat lazy underworked and overpaid bureaucrat:

are you denying that Charlie Crist promised to hold schools harmless?

It wasn't Marco who said that but Chuck and his worthless senate buddies like Pruitt and Geller.

In case you weren't aware, we are in one of the worst recessions in decades, sales tax and doc stamp tax revenue is down billions and the Florida Constitution mandates a balanced budget.

I know you school district hack bureaucrats are used to feeding from the trough but let this be an awakening for you about what's coming the rest of the year and next year as well.

You may wish to see Jenny Craig sooner than later!

Dear tired, tired, sad, and lonely terminator,

A 2% holdback will hurt students. It will not help anyone except for the lazy legislators including your best buddy in the world Marco Rubio. They got to claim the worst budget in the history of the state only to outdo themselves after leaving town. Charlie Crist doesn't get to pass a budget, raise taxes or cut taxes. Only the Legislature can do those things. This is the "hold harmless" that the legislators have provided to the citizens of the state. The Republicans can sit around and point fingers at each other all they want because they are all going down in turn.

[terminator]

teacher:
don't be angry with poor Charlie.
when he was selling A1 and promising property taxes were going to "drop like a rock" he had no intention of holding education harmless or making property taxes drop. It just sounded good and stupid Floriduhians believed him.

The two percent holdback will be good for bloated large school districts that need to cut their excess bureaucracy.

Sad Parent:
the LG is a pretty down to earth guy who's a lot more cerebral than our celebrated gov known as "sun tan" Charlie.
Charlie never found his way to his office when he was Education Commissioner, didn't know what the FCAT cut off scores were or even when the test was administered.
Do you really think Charlie Crist ever gave a hoot about public education?

[Sad Parent]

I am glad that Charlie will most likely be out as Governor if McCain is elected. He’ll be in McCain’s Cabinet, in my opinion. I hope that the Lt. Governor is more dedicated to the educational needs of our children. Charlie is a colossal disappointment.

All the memo says is that districts should prepare a contingency budget. It doesn't put to rest the "fact" that the holdback will occur. However, if the Governor (and LBC) agree to use the rainy day fund to fill any holes in the education budget, a recurring cut for 2009-2010 will be approved at the same time.

[Teacher]

Crist is the Antichrist. He sold us a bill of goods when he pushed for Amendment 1. I hope all those who voted for it are happy with their $250 savings.