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Senate plan redirects tax windfall to schools

More than $500-million slated by Gov. Jeb Bush for property tax cuts would instead go to schools - giving districts their biggest boost in a decade.

By JONI JAMES
Published March 16, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - In a surprise move, leaders of Florida's Republican-controlled Senate have rejected Gov. Jeb Bush's call for a more than $500-million reduction in next year's property taxes, saying instead they want to spend the money on public schools.

The Senate position - quietly hammered out in a committee meeting this week and backed by some of the chamber's more-fiscally conservative members - would provide the biggest increase in operational funds for Florida schools in at least a decade.

The Senate plan would spend an average of $6,786.14 per pupil next year, up 8.7 percent. Last month, Bush proposed a 5.6 percent increase.

The influx would particularly help school districts such as Pinellas County, where stagnant enrollment coupled with increased energy and insurance costs are forcing districts to cut jobs, programs or both.

And state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, boasted it would mean nearly 14 percent more dollars for the fast-growing Pasco schools.

But the hike runs afoul of Bush and other Republicans who have been determined to further cut Floridians' taxes. It would shave more than a third off of Bush's $1.5-billion tax cut plan, which has received a sympathetic reception in the Florida House.

Senate President Tom Lee, R-Valrico, said that senators have been dismayed by Florida's continued low rankings in per-student funding and that they saw next year's $3.2-billion in unanticipated revenue as a chance to make "a historic difference."

"Everywhere I go as Senate president I hear from conservatives, moderates and liberals ... the belief you can't do public education on the cheap," Lee said. "We need to make an investment. We have all this money. While we are investing in Florida, we can invest in Florida's children."

The Senate's stance ensures significant conflict over the next seven weeks as the Legislature writes a 2006-07 state budget. House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, said he anticipated the House and Senate would eventually compromise in order to pass a state budget.

But the Senate posture also adds a new twist in an election-year legislative session already rife with political posturing and controversial education issues, such as restoring Bush's voucher program and a push to scale back a voter-approved class size amendment.

Recent polling suggests Florida voters continue to rank education spending as a top priority. But its unclear at what point that desire runs afoul of tax relief, particularly among GOP voters.

Republicans in September will decide whether they wish to nominate Lee or state Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration, for state chief financial officer. Lee denied his position was politically motivated.

"My goal is to do what's right for Florida, and if that makes me to the right or left on a given day then my star will rise (or fall) based on what I believe in," Lee said.

Both Bush and Johnson criticized the Senate position, saying the upper chamber wasn't listening to citizens' complaints about the skyrocketing costs in Florida, including property taxes.

Bush's proposed property tax cut would reduce the state's property tax rate for schools by 48 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Even with the rate rollback, the state would collect an estimated $461.7-million more next year due to growth in property values and new construction. Under the Senate plan, $1.07-billion more would be collected.

"The rollback in the property tax ... is an important policy proposal simply because people's property taxes are going through the roof," Bush said.

Johnson called the Senate plan, "a slap in the face to affordable housing. ... Tom Lee has forgotten a basic Republican principle that it's a healthy economy that pays for our schools, not higher taxes."

The Senate's plan would appear to improve Pinellas schools' fiscal outlook considerably. School officials have cut $16-million from next year's budget and plan to cut an additional $6-million next week. Scores of jobs and several programs are set to be eliminated.

Under the Senate plan, Pinellas would receive $20-million more than Bush had proposed, for a total of $54-million in "new money" from the state. That, at least in theory, would wipe away the district's budget crisis. District officials declined to comment Thursday.

Times staff writers Thomas C. Tobin and Steve Bousquet contributed to this report. Joni James can be reached at 850 224-7263 or jjames@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 16, 2006, 23:47:19]