Pasco schools will receive $22-million more in state money, but growth and new class-size rollouts next year will devour most of it, leaving little for salary increases.
By STEPHEN HEGARTY and ALISA ULFERTS
Published May 28, 2003
Pasco County schools could face additional spending cuts or no teacher raises under the lean state budget approved late Tuesday.
The Pasco school district expects an additional $22-million in state money for the next school year, but almost half is devoted to the new class-size amendment approved by Florida voters in November.
As one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state, Pasco will need more money just to keep up with the influx of new kids.
"Between growth and summer school and class size, that about eats it all up," said Pasco superintendent John Long. "There's no money in there to cover our contractual obligations to employees."
Lawmakers passed a $53.5-billion state budget that includes about $837-million more for public schools. But more than half of the new money - $468-million statewide - is devoted to reducing class size. Another $160-million is tied up in Gov. Jeb Bush's school recognition program that rewards schools with good test scores.
After those programs are accounted for, districts will have little new money to spend.
In Citrus and Pinellas counties, more than 80 percent of the new money is devoted to reducing class size. It's nearly half the new money in Pasco, and about 40 percent in Hernando.
- Times staff writers Tom Tobin and Matthew Waite contributed to this report.
