Rep. Mike Weinstein’s office secured the following breakdown of the Governor’s proposed additional $1 billion for education. Thanks go to his legislative aide, Sandy Matthews.
1.Restoration of nonrecurring funding that the state budget provided last year: $224 million
2.Increased per pupil average funding, which factors in increases to buffer for 30,000 new students: $348 million (divided by 2.7 million = net $+128 per pupil)
3.State funds to offset ad valorem property tax decreases due to declining taxable values $220 million
4.Funding for contributions for FRS $164 million It is unclear whether this is new or increased funding over last year, and whether this figure bears any relation to the law passed last year that requires an 3% increased contribution from state employees towards their FRS accounts.(The FEA has alleged that this effective pay cut violated collective bargaining terms and has sued.)
5.Increasing school recognition bonuses from $75 to $100 per student ($60 million)
Total $1,016,000,000
By my math, even if the Governor doubled the billion to two billion, and dedicated the second billion entirely to the per pupil increase, that second billion would only increase the per pupil funding by another $370, bringing the total increase to $470 per student. He’d have to triple his offer, for a total of three billion, with ALL of the second and third billion going to the per student number, to restore the 2007 figure. Remember, education spending in Florida peaked in 2007—and, at that time, the National Assessment for Education Progress still ranked us firmly in the lowest quartile among US states for education spending.
Where to find the restorative $3 billion? Start with Florida TaxWatch. The nonpartisan think tank has identified $4 billion in potential savings and tax-loophole closings. But this is the legislature's job--their paramount duty, in fact.
See http://www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/Report%20GCSTF%20for%20FY2012-13.pdf
The question has been asked: How many of these proposed dollars will go to traditional public schools? Remember, charter schools are considered public schools, and would presumably reap per pupil increases, too. My understanding is that the property tax replenishments would benefit charter schools, as well. The FRS piece would benefit publis school districts who pay FRS participants (teachers). School recognition funds would presumably go to all public schools, including charter schools. Vigilance is in order, though: As tax-credit (mostly religious) voucher schools are set to expand their budget to $250 million this year, let's make sure none of that private school money gets counted towards public education.
by Julie Delagal
No comments:
Post a Comment