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School boards across the state will consider raising property taxes to fund education.

State lawmakers voted for a budget that left schools shorthanded. To make up the funding shortage, the legislature permitted school boards to levy a small millage increase. Florida Education Association Spokesman Mark Pudlow said the legislature has passed the buck.

“This continues a strategy the legislature has had for sometime, and that is to shift more burden to local school districts. So property taxes go up and the legislature says ‘it’s not our fault,’ but it is,” said Pudlow.

Governor Charlie Crist was asked about the proposed property tax increases.

“’Is the state passing the buck on the property tax issue?’ ‘No we are trying to reduce property taxes and I think that is exactly what the people want and I would encourage local governments to do the same thing. Honor the will of the people,” said Crist.

Lawmakers gave school boards the authority to raise property taxes by about 25 dollars on every 100-thousand dollars of a home’s value.