Today is the final day of the current legislative session and later tonight the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature will sign off on the $69.7 billion budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year–a budget that eliminates thousands of jobs, slashes spending on everything from public education to affordable housing and environmental protection, while harming middle class Floridians and low-income families.
Although Rick Scott came to the governor’s office promising to shake things up on account of his outsider status, his signature on the 2011-2012 budget, will make clear that he doesn’t have the slightest interest in the economic and social well-being of the majority of Floridians, and will continue to protect the wealthy and special interests in the state.
Clinging to the wrong-headed Republican mantra that, the only way the budget short-fall of $3.7 billion could be met is through deep cuts in spending, Scott will sign off on a budget that slashes public school spending by $1.4 billion. In fact, a balanced approach to fixing the budget gap through raising some new revenues by closing tax loopholes, was not even considered.
Despite Florida ranking 49th (50th once the cuts take effect) in the nation in per capita public education spending, the budget reduces school funding by $542 or 8 percent per student, to $6,268, the worst student funding since 2005-2006.
At every state college and university, the budget raises tuition by 8 percent and allows universities to increase tuition up to 15 percent. In addition, Bright Future awards have been cut by 20 percent per student and Historically Black Colleges have sustained unprecedented cuts.
State hospitals which provide care to low income people came in for a whopping $510 million cut or 12 percent, as did nursing homes where expenditures were gutted by $188 million, representing a 6.5 percent Medicaid rate cut. Healthcare providers anticipate that such deep cuts will lead to a reduction in direct care or support workers.
The budget also cuts funding for primary healthcare services for low income families at county health departments and people with developmental disabilities and their families will lose services they now rely on. Spending has also been reduced for the Healthy Start, a program for women and children.
State workers did not escape the budget scalpel either. The budget institutes a 3 percent income tax on teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public-sector workers–to cover the cost of their retirement, even as the general retirement age has been increased if full retirement benefits are to be realized; and they have not been granted a pay increase in five years.
Scott, who pledged to create 700,000 jobs in 7 years and wants to be known as the “Jobs Governor” will sign off on a budget that will eliminate nearly 4,500 state workers.
Tens of thousands are set to lose their jobs, under an agreement to privatize prisons in 18 counties across Florida. While the Legislature has claimed that such a move would save $30 million, in fact over 1,700 Department of Corrections positions will be wiped out and 601 Department of Juvenile Justice jobs will be eliminated.
The budget also raids trust funds of millions of dollars intended to pay for priorities such as road construction, environmental land purchases, affordable housing and fighting fraud. In total some $528 million dollars are expected to be pulled from trust funds, a clear breach of trust with Florida taxpayers.
Although warned of the negative implications, Republican lawmakers are set to raid the Transportation Trust Fund to the tune of $150 million which will lead to the elimination of 14,000 private-sector and public sector jobs. On Friday, President of the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association, Bob Burleson blasted lawmakers and called on Scott to veto the move.
And the budget eliminates all funding for Florida Forever, the state’s land-buying program, and reduces spending toward the Everglades’ restoration.
As if the 3 percent income tax on Florida teachers weren’t enough, early on in the legislative session they became a target, and Scott signed into law a teacher merit pay bill which ties their pay to unpopular test scores and brings to an end multi-year contracts.
Then there were the corporate income tax cuts which many lawmakers and Capitol observers felt were not doable. But, as if on cue, a deal was struck earlier this week to remove the tax from nearly half of the businesses who pay it. The measure is estimated to cost the state $30 million and allows Scott to claim a victory on one of his signature campaign promises.
And to add insult to injury, let’s not forget, hidden in the budget were the turkeys or hometown projects amounting to at least $156 million, dished out with little debate to lawmakers like Senate Budget chief JD Alexnder (R-Lake Wales) and House Speaker Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park).
All in all, Scott and the Republicans’ state spending plan will cause even more pain for Florida’s middle class and working families by taking from the poor and middle class, while continuing with tax breaks for the wealthy. It is sure to have too, a devastating impact on the local economy.
Is anyone surprised?
