TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed state budget has higher education officials smiling, but public school officials aren't as pleased.
Bush wants to give community colleges and universities enough money to replenish last year's budget cuts and to pay for expected enrollment growth. Much of the cost, however, would be shouldered by students, who are looking at yet another year of significant tuition increases.
"This looks like a good budget," said David Colburn, the provost at the University of Florida. "Certainly better than we've seen in past years."
"I think we ought to breathe a sigh of relief," said William Merwin, president of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. "This is more than I thought we'd get."
But local school officials say the governor's budget doesn't provide enough money to pay for thousands of new students in K-12, class size reduction and the increased cost of doing business.
"It would be good without the class size, but with class size and inflation, I'm not sure," Pinellas school superintendent Howard Hinesley said.
Even if employee raises were eliminated, Hillsborough school officials said they would have to cut expenses by $19-million next year just to cover projected enrollment growth, said Jim Hamilton, Hillsborough's deputy superintendent of schools.
"We'll have to make some decisions," he said.
When Bush released his proposed spending plan Tuesday, he called it a "workable" budget focused on priorities. It includes a $1-billion increase in funding for public schools, which would raise per pupil spending an average of 4.5 percent statewide.
But much of that increase will be eaten up by the voter-mandated class size reduction, which will cost an additional $508-million next year.
Bush wants the class size requirement repealed, a call he reiterated Tuesday. "It has little impact on educational quality," he said. "It's not directly related to rising student achievement. Continuing on this path will be increasingly difficult."
Bush was able to find money to fund a 19.3 percent increase in a reading initiative that would pay for 1,000 new reading coaches in middle school.
"It's one of the best investments in our state," the governor said.
Bush wants to spend $10-million to train 8,500 child care workers for the state's new prekindergarten programs. Democrats criticized him for not spending enough.
"It's one step above a babysitting service," said Ron Klein, the Democratic leader in the Senate.
Bush is recommending an additional $104-million for community colleges, an increase of 7.6 percent. He wants to give Florida universities a $144-million increase, a 5.7 percent jump that would more than offset many of the painful cuts suffered last year.
But much of the additional money would come from students, who are looking at yet another year of tuition increases. Bush's budget allows community colleges to raise costs up to five percent. University undergraduates are looking at a 7.5 percent bump.
If the Legislature goes along, it would be the ninth consecutive year university students have been smacked with a tuition increase.
The average in-state student would pay an additional $219, raising the annual bill to $3,139.
Education highlights
$9.6-million to train 8,500 child care workers for prekindergarten programs.
$160-million to reward schools that earn a grade of A or boost their grade up a level, up $22-million.
$50-million for corporate tax vouchers.
$143.5-million for reading initiatives, up $23.2 million.
$976-million for the class size initiative, up $508.2 million.
$11-million for an Alzheimer's center at the University of South Florida.
$5.4-million for a chiropractic school at Florida State University.
$20-million for three "centers of excellence" at Florida universities.
$10-million targeting nursing, teaching, engineering and information technology students at universities.
$97-million in need-based financial aid, up $12-million.
$25-million in matching grants for universities.
$30.8-million in matching grants for community colleges.
Tuition
Up to 5 percent increase for community college students.
7.5 percent increase for in-state, university undergraduates.
12.5-percent increase for out-of-state and graduate students.
