State: Price tags kept off ballot

Price tags kept off ballot

The Florida Supreme Court blocks an effort to put a cost estimate next to two proposed amendments in November.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY, Times Staff Writer

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday blocked the state from placing a price tag next to two proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot.

The 6-1 opinion is a setback for Gov. Jeb Bush and some top education officials who oppose a proposed amendment aimed at reducing class sizes. They argue that it would cost taxpayers billions of dollars and that voters should be told of the cost.

"The Florida Supreme Court's decision (Friday) is incomprehensible," Bush said in a statement. "The court appears to be condoning a situation that would leave Florida voters in the dark concerning initiatives that will have a significant impact on our state's economy for decades to come."

The court's decision affects two ballot initiatives -- one providing universal prekindergarten programs and another capping class sizes statewide. The biggest impact would be with the class size initiative, which has drawn the most opposition and has the bigger price tag.

The class size initiative would require that by the year 2010, classes in Florida schools would be capped at 18 students in prekindergarten through third grade, 22 students in grades four through eight, and 25 in high school.

State economists have estimated that it would cost $27.5-billion over the eight-year phase-in and about $2.5-billion annually after that. But the number is the subject of some debate. Initiative supporters say the cost estimate and the effort to get that price tag on the ballot are attempts at "political meddling."

"This governor and Legislature have shown they will stop at nothing to protect special interests at our children's expense," said Sen. Kendrick Meek, chairman of Florida's Coalition to Reduce Class Size, in a prepared statement.

"Do people want to know the true cost of reducing class sizes?" Meek said. "Of course they do. And there will be plenty of time for that debate before the election."

The initiative is supported by Florida's teachers union and the Democratic nominee for governor.

Critics include Bush, some key lawmakers and Education Secretary Jim Horne, who spoke to several groups and newspaper editorial boards this week, warning them of ill-effects of the initiative.

Other opponents include a group representing Florida's school superintendents. The Florida PTA voted not to support the initiative.

Also this week, the newly formed Coalition to Protect Florida announced its plans to wage a campaign against the class size initiative. The group includes former House Speaker John Thrasher and retired U.S. Sen. Connie Mack.

"I guess that just means our group's got to work that much harder," Thrasher said of the court's decision. "There's a lot of other information we need to get out to the public. We weren't just going to focus on the cost."

The court noted that there will be a measure on the ballot in November asking Floridians whether they want to change the Constitution to require that price tags be included with proposed amendments.

The court avoided commenting on the wisdom of having a fiscal impact statement on the ballot. But the justices said the price tag could not be imposed by statute.

"If Floridians wish to have a fiscal impact statement included with all initiatives to amend the constitution," the court wrote, "then they can vote to adopt" the proposed amendment that would make the fiscal impact statements a part of the Constitution.

The Florida Supreme Court blocks an effort to put a cost estimate next to two proposed amendments in November.