Are We Sacrificing a Generation of Students on an Altar of Fiscal Responsibility?

Last week, I called on the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist to support my plan to save Florida’s public education system from a fiscal catastrophe. I believe my plan represents a practical, straightforward and targeted approach to the growing crisis in our public schools, community colleges and universities during this economic recession, the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades.

During the last 15 months, the Legislature has cut more than $3 billion from the education budgets of our public schools. The governor has largely been missing in action, other than offering rhetoric about how public education is important and promising voters that he would hold our schools “harmless” if they would support the Amendment One property tax initiative approved in January. The voters kept their end of that bargain but the governor didn’t hold up his end.

As we prepare for further cuts this year in a special legislative session, likely to come after the election, it’s clear that Florida’s fiscal crisis is getting worse. Even an optimist like Governor Crist has to acknowledge this and admit that the solution to the state’s economic problems will require us to look at growing revenue instead of additional budget cuts to vital services like those provided by our public education system.

I’m calling on the Legislature and governor to support a one-cent increase in Florida’s    sales tax for the next three years, with the proceeds dedicated to public education.

My plan would generate about $10.5 billion in additional revenue for our public schools, community colleges and universities over three years, so we are talking about $3.5 billion annually. This amount would allow public education at all levels to stave off even more devastating cuts that are inevitable if we do nothing. This won’t be progress for schools, it will simply avert catastrophe.

The plan would have a lifespan of three years, the likely duration of the economic cycle. Let me be clear; this plan isn’t a lottery-styled excuse for legislators to reduce the state’s share of education funding by a corresponding amount. This plan is designed to not only allow the governor the ability to honor his so-called promise to “hold education harmless,” but it’s designed to provide additional investment so that we can stabilize the current system.

There’s no question that Florida faces stiff challenges economically. I’ll admit that a tax increase doesn’t sound very appealing in difficult times. But we’re just beginning to feel the impacts of the budget cuts that have already been passed. The next round of budget cuts will cause even greater damage. We’re sacrificing this generation of students on an altar of supposed fiscal responsibility. That’s a recipe for longer-term disaster.

Florida needs comprehensive reform of its tax structure. Today, our state’s public education system needs immediate help if we are to provide the services to our students that they deserve. This immediate help will offer us time to examine our economy and, based on our priorities and shared responsibilities, determine how to move ahead together.