Darn.:funn:Busted again.
Union response to state education dollar cuts
- Thread starter wrobert
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Darn.:funn:Busted again.
I'll pay higher taxes if that money goes to education. 
I also volunteer to go line by line through the entire state budget if we need to find more $ for schools at the expense of other items.
I also volunteer to go line by line through the entire state budget if we need to find more $ for schools at the expense of other items.
Another powerful message on education funding
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o3vk_ZZHPY"]YouTube - Here Lies Our Dreams - Florida Funding Funeral - Betterfunding.org[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o3vk_ZZHPY"]YouTube - Here Lies Our Dreams - Florida Funding Funeral - Betterfunding.org[/ame]
I guess I should add my two cents worth here. First, private schools do not have to provide the following that public schools do, whether or not they accept vouchers: transportation, food service. Those two services alone drive costs up. Also, a private school does not have to accept a student with special needs, or an emotionally handicapped child, etc., even if the kid brings a voucher. Thus, public school costs continue to go up....
Florida's schools will not be adequately funded until somebody in Tallahassee has the political will to fix our tax system. Does anyone believe that our sales tax system, with its myriad of politically motivated exceptions, our property tax assessments, with its myriad of exemptions, is either fair or quite frankly, predictable from one year to the next. I agree that when the economy suffers, government, schools and everyone should tighten their belt. However, I would also argue that part of the reason Florida's economy is so bad is that there is no political will to get the government to invest in infrastructure, schools, etc.
Remember, Florida is dead last is per pupil spending in K-12 and university school across the country. That's right folks, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama all spend more per child and student that Florida does. We do well to compete, but, I would argue that we cannot no longer expect to produce world class students on third world budgets.
As for our budget, we currently have a 7.5 million dollar fund balance (budgeted savings) and we have absorbed over a three million dollar reduction in funding for this school year. The state is telling us that we will start next year with 8.0 million dollars less in our operating budget than last years. Thus, between now and April we need to find enough cuts to budget the state required 2.5% fund balance and fund our budget. My math indicates that we will need to cut approximately 4.0 million dolllars to meet those required goals and fund our budget. That is not easy, but, we will do it.
Personally, I hope to do it without cutting any services to students, but, we are looking at every possibility.
Thanks.
Florida's schools will not be adequately funded until somebody in Tallahassee has the political will to fix our tax system. Does anyone believe that our sales tax system, with its myriad of politically motivated exceptions, our property tax assessments, with its myriad of exemptions, is either fair or quite frankly, predictable from one year to the next. I agree that when the economy suffers, government, schools and everyone should tighten their belt. However, I would also argue that part of the reason Florida's economy is so bad is that there is no political will to get the government to invest in infrastructure, schools, etc.
Remember, Florida is dead last is per pupil spending in K-12 and university school across the country. That's right folks, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama all spend more per child and student that Florida does. We do well to compete, but, I would argue that we cannot no longer expect to produce world class students on third world budgets.
As for our budget, we currently have a 7.5 million dollar fund balance (budgeted savings) and we have absorbed over a three million dollar reduction in funding for this school year. The state is telling us that we will start next year with 8.0 million dollars less in our operating budget than last years. Thus, between now and April we need to find enough cuts to budget the state required 2.5% fund balance and fund our budget. My math indicates that we will need to cut approximately 4.0 million dolllars to meet those required goals and fund our budget. That is not easy, but, we will do it.
Personally, I hope to do it without cutting any services to students, but, we are looking at every possibility.
Thanks.
And there are some very high need special education children, including the ones who need a one on one aide in order to make it through the school day. The cost of educating a severely handicapped child can run $25K-$75K a year, and the public schools have to cover those full costs of educating the disabled under federal law.