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Budget crafters produce accord

Community colleges aren't pleased with one new wrinkle in the $71-billion plan.

By JONI JAMES
Published May 2, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - For the first time, Florida students attending for-profit colleges in a handful of high-demand fields will qualify for state financial aid under a 2006-07 state spending agreement hammered out late Monday by the Legislature's budget chairmen.

The $2.5-million decision, vehemently opposed by the state's community colleges, came as Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, and Rep. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, also agreed on a handful of other education and employee pay issues to meet a deadline for printing the budget.

Florida lawmakers aim to vote Friday on the $71-billion spending plan, the largest in state history. To do so, a printed copy must be on their desks no later than today to comply with a 72-hour waiting period required before a vote.

"I think we have a fair budget, said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "I think when you take a look at what we need to do to make sure that Florida is prepared for the future and prepared for class size (reductions), prepared for an economic downturn, I think it's a good budget."

Flush state coffers have allowed lawmakers to set aside the highest per student funding increase for public schools in at least a decade: 8.6 percent. Still unclaimed, however, is about $3-billion that lawmakers will decide how to spend by Friday as they make final decisions on tax cuts, expected to total about $300-million; the bailout for Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state insurer of last resort, which is facing a $1.7-billion deficit; and setting aside money for less flush times.

Among the last-minute compromises Monday:

--State employees will receive an across-the-board 3 percent increase in pay on Oct. 1. Employee health insurance premiums will increase 8 percent in April 2007.

--Public university students will see a 3 percent tuition hike; community college students, a 2.5 percent hike.

--Lottery dollars will supplement traditional school construction funds to provide $1.1-billion to satisfy demands of voters' mandate to shrink class sizes.

--State universities will receive more than $537.8-million for new facilities, including $19.9-million for a science building at the University of South Florida.

--Community colleges will receive $385.6-million for buildings, including $5.8-million for an Ybor City criminal justice facility for Hillsborough Community College and $3.7-million to renovate facilities for St. Petersburg College's downtown campus.

By far, one of the most controversial measures was the new grant program for students at for-profit colleges, which lawmakers have opposed funding, due to inconsistent accreditation.

But supporters prevailed this year, arguing they can help train needed workers, such as nurses. The program will some students at Florida Metropolitan University.

--Times staff writer Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler contributed to this report, and material from the Associated Press was used.

[Last modified May 2, 2006, 01:56:04]