Fla. budget has extra $1.1 billion for spending

[BasesLoadedWalk]

Now that they have an extra 1.1 billion to use, don't you think they could spare $60 million for the Marlins ballpark?

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8178818.htm

 

 

LEGISLATURE 2004

 

Fla. budget has extra $1.1 billion for spending

 

The state budget is getting a windfall: a billion extra dollars, some of which could be spent on roads and universities.

 

BY GARY FINEOUT

[email protected]

 

 

TALLAHASSEE- Florida lawmakers looking to balance the state budget got the good news on Friday they had been expecting: The state's economy has provided them with a lot more money to spend in the coming year.

 

New estimates on Friday show that legislators will have $1.1 billion more to spend during this election year than Gov. Jeb Bush planned when he proposed his $55.4 billion budget in January.

 

State economists said Friday that lower interest rates, increased tourism and increased corporate profits prompted them to raise the amount of money they expect state government to take in during the next year.

 

But instead of celebrating their good fortune, Republican leaders reacted warily to the news, because about half the money is considered a one-time windfall because of the way state economists account for unexpected revenue.

 

Republican leaders in both the House and Senate are now saying that most of this money should be spent on one-time expenses, such as school construction, rather than recurring yearly costs like hiring new teachers. GOP budget writers say that to do otherwise could leave Florida with a budget deficit in 2005.

 

''This is not rocket science,'' said Sen. Ken Pruitt, a Port St. Lucie Republican and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. ``Let there be no mistake. We have an abundance of one-time money. We do not intend to put us deeper into the hole.''

 

BUILDINGS, ROADS

 

Republicans say they will use the one-time money on new university buildings, roads and projects to clean up lakes and rivers, as well as grants for museums and theaters. They also intend to use some of the money to pay for tax cuts, including a sales tax holiday in late July.

 

A tax break for corporations also has support from legislative leaders because it would be a one-time only drain on state coffers.

 

The downside is that even with the large amount of extra money, legislators appear ready to slash millions from existing state programs in order to generate money that they need to cover a 13.5 percent increase in Medicaid costs, additional public school students, prisons and courts.

 

Democrats say it's irresponsible to be spending huge amounts of money on one-time projects and handing out tax cuts while cutting essential services. One Senate budget writer on Friday predicted that healthcare programs will be cut by at least $300 million.

 

''I think it's up to Republicans to not make big cuts now that we have found more money,'' said Rep. Ron Greenstein, a Coconut Creek Democrat and member of the House Appropriations Committee. ``They need to prioritize the needs of the people first.''

 

This past week, even as unofficial estimates were expected to show that legislators would receive extra money, House budget committees started weighing an across-the-board 3.5 percent cut in existing programs.

 

Such a cut would mean, for example, $62 million less for Florida's 11 state universities, $28 million less for community colleges and a $1 million cut for public broadcasting. The initial House proposal also suggested a possible $34 million cut in money provided for school textbooks and nearly $25 million less for public school technology.

 

AN `EXERCISE'

 

Rep. Bruce Kyle, a Fort Myers Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, called the 3.5 percent reduction lists an ''exercise,'' although he would not rule out that the House would recommend some of the cuts listed.

 

How deep House and Senate budget writers will cut spending will be hashed out over the remainder of the annual legislative session.

 

Bush, who laid out his budget two months ago, is expected on Monday to recommend to legislators how he would spend the additional $1.1 billion. On Friday, the governor said he hoped that lawmakers would use some of the new money to reduce the amount of borrowing that they normally rely on.

 

''If we make wise, appropriate use of one-time revenue, we can create lasting benefits for the people of Florida,'' Bush said.

 

Florida's financial picture has steadily improved since a year ago when infighting among Republican legislators led to a budget stalemate between the House and Senate.

 

But in order to end that impasse, lawmakers passed a budget that relied on one-time fixes such as raiding state reserves and increasing fees, including tuition increases for university and community college students.

 

This year is much different. Legislators will have $3.2 billion more than they did a year ago, when they passed a $53.5 billion budget.

 

That total includes the $1.1 billion that state economists predicted on Friday as well as nearly $1 billion in money that Congress sent to the states last year as an economic stimulus.

[Guest Juanky]

If they don't build the stadium now they should all be removed from office.

[Hotcorner]

Such a cut would mean, for example, $62 million less for Florida's 11 state universities, $28 million less for community colleges and a $1 million cut for public broadcasting. The initial House proposal also suggested a possible $34 million cut in money provided for school textbooks and nearly $25 million less for public school technology.

 

hey, who needs textbooks anyway?

[Das Texan]

and peopld seriously wonder why education is so crappy.