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Scott’s proposed $66.4 billion state budget includes $1 billion more for education

Posted Dec 7, 2011 by TBO.com

Updated Dec 7, 2011 at 03:16 PM

Gov. Rick Scott is proposing a $66.4 billion state budget for next fiscal year, including a $1 billion increase for education. The total is down over the current year’s budget by $4.6 billion and almost brings it down to 2005-06 levels, the governor noted.

“I will not sign a budget… that does not have a significant increase in funding for education,” he emphasized. Instead, the legislature will have to make “difficult choices.” The state faces a $1.7 billion shortfall.

The proposed $9.5 billion in state education funding would bring funding back to 2006-07 levels, Scott said.

Scott contends two areas where cuts can be made—“significant reform” on how Medicaid providers are paid and cuts to prisons, since, he said, Florida’s crime rate is lower and the prison population has dropped.

Other details of Scott’s proposal:

—Funding would remain the same as this year for universities and colleges;

—Nearly 4,463 position would be cut, made up of about 1,700 vacant positions plus about 2,800 other positions. Those proposed cuts include 2,064 in corrections; more than 440 in DCF (301 in mental health services), about 250 positions from county health departments that have been vacant for more than a year.

See his plan http://letsgettowork.state.fl.us/.