Warning: Constant ABSPATH already defined in /home/flanews/public_html/wp-config.php on line 37
Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Schools Get Minor Bump in Budget

Welcome to

Capitol News Service

Florida's Best Political Coverage on Television

Schools Get Minor Bump in Budget

March 9th, 2016 by flanews

The highest education funding in Florida history sounds good, but as Matt Galka tells us, not everyone is singing the praises of the state’s education budget.

$20 billion of the state’s $82 billion dollar spending plan goes towards education. That includes a $458 million dollar bump in public school funding. It’s only one percent, but Senator Bill Montford wanted more.

“I’m concerned that we only got really a 1 percent increase, but we also got some other funding in there like technology, significant increase in technology which is what school superintendents wanted as well. I wouldn’t say it’s an exceptionally good budget year for public education, it could have been worse, but we’ll just have to deal with it when it comes,” said Sen. Montford.

The Governor wanted more, too.  He suggested using property taxes to pay for more school spending. Lawmakers disagreed.

“Property tax payers shouldn’t be counted on that much for public education, the state has an obligation,” said Montford.

Like everything in the budget, the Governor could weild his veto pen.

Representative Clay Ingram, who serves on the House education committee, hopes that isn’t the case – even if the budget isn’t as much as Rick Scott wanted.

“Hopefully because the legislature came to an agreement and it’s a win for everyone it gets singed into law,” said Ingram.

Charter schools also scored a victory in the spending plan. They’ll get 75 million for construction costs – the same amount public schools will get.Per pupil spending will eclipse the old high water mark from the 2007 – 2008 budget year. But the state’s largest teacher’s union – the Florida Education Association – says with inflation – the dollars don’t go as far for students as they did nearly a decade ago.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Comments are closed.

copyright © 2016 by Capitol News Service | Powered by Wordpress | Hosted by LyonsHost.com