From the St. Augustine Record
By MARCIA LANE
St. Johns County School Superintendent Joe Joyner says proposed cuts by Gov. Rick Scott would mean about $12 million less for local schools next year.
"Obviously it's going to be devastating," Joyner said Tuesday after officials reviewed the governor's proposed budget. Cuts can be expected across the board, he said.
State Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, isn't willing to predict if the governor will get the kinds of cuts he wants, but says some cuts will be made.
He predicted human services (40.5 percent of the budget), education (32 percent) and public safety (7.1 percent) will all face cuts.
"Those three major priorities make up 79.6 percent of the budget. Now how are you going to reduce the budget by $5 billion (by making cuts) on just the remaining 20 percent?" Proctor said.
Proctor said it was "too early" and "premature" to predict what the final version of the state's budget will look like. Committee hearings, testimony and analysis will be required before the legislature comes up with their version, he said.
"I've never seen a governor's budget strictly followed," Proctor said, when asked if the governor would get exactly what he was asking for.
Local school officials were also using the words "too early" and "premature" to describe what cuts will have to be made, but there's no doubt some cuts will have to be made. Joyner said there is not enough money in the district's contingency fund to absorb the governor's proposed cuts.
The governor's proposal shows St. Johns County with a reduction of $16.3 million and also a reduction in the district contribution to the Florida Retirement System of $4.3 million, said Conley Weiss, the district's chief financial officer. The difference amounts to the $12 million expected cut.
"There's a reduction in revenue and a corresponding reduction in expenses," Weiss said, adding the governor's plan assumes all school personnel will be paying 5 percent of their own retirement cost. The full 9 percent is now paid by the district.
If the retirement system changes, school employees will see a 5 percent cut in their take-home pay.
Joyner said the $12 million cut would be felt in all areas.
"You would obviously see decreases in programs, staffing and teachers," Joyner said.
Adding to local concerns is that St. Johns County is the second fastest growing school district in the state and demands for services keep growing. Since 2007 the district has grown from about 27,868 students to a predicted 31,416 for the 2011-2012 school year.
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-02-08/superintendent-proposed-cuts-devastating
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