The leaders of the two state legislative chambers continued to offer different views on how to handle the budget process they will oversee in the next 60 days.
House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, in his opening remarks expressed confidence that the budget would be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
It is my intention that this House work with our colleagues in the Senate to complete the budget during the scheduled 60 days of regular session, Cannon said.
Meanwhile, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, a few moments later, addressing his chamber, asked his members if they would be willing to focus first on the required once-a-decade redistricting and wait on the budget.
When you cut a budget, as we did last year by $4 million, there are no easy choices, Haridopolos said.
The state is facing a projected $2 billion shortfall in revenue in the 2012-2013 fiscal year from the current year that ends June 30, 2012.
Haridopolos has previously suggested the budget be delayed until the states Revenue Estimating Committee could provide estimates closer to the start of the new fiscal year. That would mean a special session following the end of the regular session in March.
In most years, the session begins in March, but has been moved up to January because of the need to address redistricting.
Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, responded that the Senate will consider all options on the budget.
There is no question that we face another challenging budget year with limited resources, Gardiner said. We will diligently look at all options in order to balance the budget while responsibly meeting critical needs. Along with the states budget, crafting and passing a fair and timely redistricting plan that meets state and federal requirements will remain a priority.
Senate Budget Committee Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said delaying the budget process may be a very legitimate discussion.
As we saw in September, within a couple, three months, sometimes that can change dramatically. The question will be how confident are we that the economy is on a steady enough course over the coming months that we can rely on these numbers that are coming in earlier than we would use.
Gov. Rick Scott has called for a $66.4 billion budget for the next fiscal year -- a 4.6 percent drop from the current year -- that includes a $1 billion increase for education, while making across-the-board reductions throughout other state agencies, ranging from a reduction in Medicaid reimbursement payments based on recipients' financial status, to the closing and privatization of correction facilities, to laying off an additional 2,800 state employees and further cuts to regulations for small business.
Cannon has repeatedly said the past couple of weeks that he anticipates the budget being completed in the regular session and reiterated that during his opening comments Tuesday.
I have tremendous confidence in (Appropriation Committee) Chairman (Denise) Grimsley, (R-Sebring), and I know that she, working with all of her subcommittee chairs, will bring the appropriations process to a timely and responsible conclusion, Cannon said.
Cannon added that the Legislature has seen revenues drop for the past six years.
And that means we will be required to, once again, make hard decisions; to differentiate our wants from our needs and our needs from our priorities, he said.
Our prior insistence on fiscal discipline has paid great dividends. Although Florida was one of the states hardest hit by the national recession, we have avoided the kinds of financial crises that paralyzed governments in other states. We restored stability to our bond rating, and we created a steady, predictable climate for Floridas businesses and Floridas families."
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
