We’re all in this together

Mar 2, 2009

by Sen. Mike Haridopolos
Guest Editorial in the Florida Today

Your Florida legislators—Reps. Steve Crisafulli, Debbie Mayfield, Ralph Poppell, John Tobia and Ritch Workman, as well as Sen. Thad Altman and I—are committed to fighting for our kids in Tallahassee.

We are so proud of our Florida schools that now rank 10th in educational performance due to the dedication of our awesome students, teachers, parents and volunteers.

We, along with our educational leaders in Brevard County, are unified in our fight for your fair share of federal and state tax dollars for our classrooms. Brevard County per-student spending—federal and state operating—has increased from $5,681 in 2001-02 to $7,563 today.

Times are tough in Florida as over 8 percent of our work force is unemployed, housing prices are down and people are spending less money than they did two years ago. Our state budget is a reflection of that downturn as we have cut $11 billion over the last two years.

What was once a $73.9 billion budget is now $63 billion.

We have heard a vocal call for higher taxes from the Brevard County School Board, teachers’ union and our superintendent. However, a tax increase is not our first option. It will only be our last.

We believe that with creative thinking, flexibility and real teamwork, we can eliminate the potential $80 million in budget cuts that Brevard schools are facing and prevent a tax hike when people can least afford it.

First, we all must fight in Washington, D.C., for our fair share of the education dollars in the economic stimulus package. Go to my Web site to e-mail and encourage our U.S. senators to keep fighting for our share of the education dollars.

After all, whether you favor the stimulus package or not, it is already done, and we are all paying for it.

In addition, we will look at gambling revenues. Gambling has existed here since the 1930s, and it is time they pay equal fees for operating in our state.

We also support more flexibility on how schools spend money. The School Board and superintendent gave us a list of mandates they would like to eliminate to save money. These include the P.E. mandate, class size, how we buy textbooks and how we spend school construction money.

Finally, we applaud the School Board for following our lead to cut their pay as we did last year. Yes, both are largely symbolic gestures, but important in leading by example. It was a clear sign that we are all in this together.

We pledge to communicate regularly with the School Board, superintendent, principals and teachers in order to utilize their expertise as we make the needed changes for our kids.

We appreciate your commitment to our schools as evidenced on Monday night at our town hall meeting.

If you would like us to keep you updated on the events during session, e-mail us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and you will be placed on our e-mail list.

Thank you, and we are honored to serve you in the Florida Legislature.

Reprinted from the Florida Today

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