Let the budget spin begin.
Despite headlines accusing Gov. Rick Scott of "cutting" education spending, the fact is that the state's K-12 per-pupil outlays remain intact.
"The governor's budget maintains classroom funding (K-12) at the same level as last year -- there is no reduction in state spending from general revenue," said Scott spokesman Brian Burgess.
But -- and it's a big but -- total spending is being reduced because federal stimulus dollars are expiring.
"Because schools don't have the same federal stimulus dollars which they relied on last year to balance their budgets, total classroom spending (i.e., state AND federal combined) will be reduced by $700 per student," Burgess wrote in an e-mail.
Only in the minds of the Tallahassee press corps and self-serving school superintendents could that scenario be described as a cut in state funding.
The total K-12 budget is $8.9 billion, with outlays at $6,600 per student.
Even so, some nervous Nellies like Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, whined about "significant" cuts on Tuesday. With Republicans like that, who needs Democrats?
The disingenuous gnashing of teeth over the governor's budget proves Scott's point about the foolishness of relying on Uncle Sam.
Likening effervescent stimulus funds to lottery winnings, the governor said this at his budget rollout in Eustis Monday:
"Florida has accepted one-time handouts from the federal government, allowing state and local governments to spend way beyond their means."
Going forward, the governor may well find that the K-12 budget could really stand a cut.
The layers of non-instructional staff and well-paid administrators are piled high and deep in a system where less than half of Florida's government school work force actually works in the classroom.
If and when Scott ventures into that educratic swamp, prepare for some real yelps.
--
Reach Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
