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Education Cuts Never Heal!
Today Florida’s budget is based on economic estimates of tax revenues, largely from sales taxes. Most of our state economists believe that the estimates from earlier this year were too optimistic. In a few weeks the Legislature will convene in special session to approve a revised budget to address these projected shortfalls. While our elected leaders could make up the difference by tapping into the states monetary reserves, Governor Crist and legislative leaders say they want to make budget cuts to alleviate the problem. They are cutting this year’s education budget while telling the public that they intend to hold education harmless.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Education Cuts Never Heal!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
During the special session in June when lawmakers voted to trim property taxes, they all promised to "hold education harmless" against any budget cutbacks. But mere weeks later, a budget shortfall has threatened to make that promise hollow.
Because of an economic downturn, lawmakers will meet in September in another special session to adjust the budget downward. Some elected officials are looking at program cutbacks as the only option to alleviate the shortfall. There is no talk about other revenue options or using the state's reserves.
My concern is that with the state and federal government, and the public demanding more of schools, we simply cannot afford the cutbacks. Florida has underfinanced education; just look at how we rank when compared with other states.
As your constituent and a proud member of the Seminole County public schools community, I urge you to please consider other options than cutting public education when revising the budget.
Education cuts never heal!
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
August 23, 2007
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Florida's slumping economy has forced legislative leaders to call a special session in September to make deeper cuts in state spending. Leaders in both the Florida House and Senate say the session will begin September 18 and last into early October.
The action became necessary after the state revenues came up short by more than $1 billion because of a depressed real estate market and weakened retail sector, which together have shrunk state revenues from the decrease in sales taxes and documentary stamps.
This is bad news for public education, despite the promises from Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders that they would hold education harmless because of the budget shortfall. Despite that promise, the governor has ruled out new taxes, additional fees or help from budget reserves to plug the budget gap. That leaves only spending cuts as an option.
These budget cuts could potentially have a huge impact in your school and your classroom. Raises will likely be smaller, despite the fact that public school salaries in Florida are thousands of dollars below the national average. Programs may be cut, school services curtailed and there may even be layoffs in some places.
There are some options that could prevent this scenario. Lawmakers could be persuaded to use state reserves and unobligated revenues, such as $500 million from budget items the governor vetoed in May, to hold education spending harmless or to mitigate education cuts. Education cuts could be limited in the major program areas and local school districts should be given the flexibility to make decisions on cutbacks that is right for their local area. For example, a school district, with union input, may want to hold MAP in abeyance, reduce school recognition funding, forego teacher leads distributions or limit the addition of reading coaches, etc. In this way the budget reduction decision is made at the level where there is the most minimal impact on students and school employees.
Lawmakers and the public need to hear from those of us in the schools about the personal, real impact of these potential budget cuts. Please help us tell your stories of public education in Florida to our political leaders and to the public through letters to the editors, phone calls on talk radio and in conversations with your neighbors, family and friends.
Click here to read the Florida Department of Education's recommended education cuts.
http://tinyurl.com/2k9vd3
Take action today to contact governor Crist and your elected representatives via this Seminole GetsActive advocacy campaign, "Education Cuts Never Heal!"
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