1. Public Education: Article IX, Section 1 of The Florida Constitution notes: "The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education..."

2. As recently as 2005-2006, State funding provided about 60% of Miami-Dade County Public School dollars. That trend is now reversed; local property taxes provide for almost 60% of M-DCPS funding with the Federal government paying about 5%...and the state paying the remainder.

3. Miami-Dade insiders suggest property values will be down 15% this year, with a commensurate decrease in revenue available to schools. Meanwhile, foreclosures, short sales and tax assessment appeals may result in M-DCPS being unable to collect budgeted revenues ranging between $15-million and $50-million in 2010.

4. Tallahassee government insiders are projecting state revenue streams to be down 5% in 2010.

5. As recently as January 30th, the Jacksonville's Florida Times-Union reported that Florida could be facing a budget shortfall of as much as $3.2 billion this year.

6. Government sources report that the Florida House of Representatives has been asked to examine how it could cut 15% from each of the following six areas that encompass the state budget: Education, Judicial, General Government, Natural Resources/Environment/Growth Management/Transportation, Criminal Justice and Corrections and Human Services. The Senate has not specifically addressed the matter.

7. The Class Size Amendment: A MAJOR ISSUE.  Published reports show that the 2002 Constitutional amendment regulating class size costs the state more than $2.5 billion each year. Approved by voters in 2002, the measure is what's called an "unfunded mandate" as there was no specific funding source attached to the ballot item.  Already announced this year is a proposal by Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Chapel Hill, and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, that would allow schools to use the average class size to meet the standard as long as the school added no more than three students to each class through third grade and five students to each class in grades 4-12. If approved by three-fifths of both the Florida House and Senate, this measure would be put before voters in November.

HOWEVER, SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST...AND DISTRICTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO STRICT CLASS SIZES. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VOTE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC WILL BE TOO LATE. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRICT CLASS REQUIREMENT WILL COST MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS MORE THAN $100-MILLION AND HAVE A POTENTIALLY DIRE IMPACT ON ELECTIVES.

For example, if a middle school has 10 math classes filled with 22 students each...and one more student enrolls at the school...the principal will now be required to create a new math class and get another math teacher. The funds allocated per student certainly wouldn't pay to hire a part-time grocery bagger let alone a teacher. Now what does the principal do?


8. Governor and Senate Candidate Charlie Crist has announced a budget that provides for an increase in education spending of $179 per student. However, a couple of notes about his proposal:

    a. It has to be passed by the Florida House and Senate. And many legislative leaders are already voicing extreme concerns about the plan.

    b. The majority of Mr. Crist's education funding increase is predicated on a Seminole Indian casino gambling compact that has already been rejected by the Florida House.

9. Capital Funding will be an issue in 2010.  This is a key area for Miami-Dade County, an area that includes school construction and maintenance. Why is this important? One-third of Miami-Dade County School buildings are 50 years and older; 50% are 40 years and older.


10. A major issue in 2010 is the replacement of State Stabilization Funds or the so-called stimulus money...which currently pays for the employment of more than 2,000 M-DCPS employees. No elected officials have announced any plans for dealing with the loss of these funds after this year.

11. There are few new revenue sources available. In an election year, lawmakers are showing no stomach for higher taxes or new fees. Off-shore oil drilling is a potential, yet controversial source of new revenue, but that sources say is an issue that appears to be losing momentum. Insiders say casino gambling, to include both Seminole Indian and pari-mutuels, may offer the best source of additional revenue.

Why get involved? This year's legislative action, or inaction, could have devastating consequences. Parents can expect that every program, every elective...anything not mandated by Florida...is a fair target for elimination. Education of the "whole child" will be in danger.

What items are not subject to sales tax in Florida? We think you'll find the following link very informative...if not eye-opening; sales tax exemptions begin on page 123:

http://edr.state.fl.us/reports/taxhandbooks/taxhandbook2008.pdf 


This link is to a 2002 Florida Tax Watch article; some key Florida lawmakers believe the premise remains generally valid:
 
http://www.floridataxwatch.org/archive/vickersfinal.html