House Approves $69.2 Billion Budget, Education Up $1.1 Billion

With a month left in the regular session, the Florida House approved a $69.2 billion budget Thursday that increases Pre-K-12 education by 9.5 percent while bumping up college tuition and reducing hospital payments.

Expect there to be serious conference negotiations ahead as the Senate continues to hammer out its financial plan for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, called the fiscal plan a prudent approach to funding essential government functions, including education, transportation infrastructure, public safety and economic development.

The House budget consists of revenue funds totaling $24.3 billion, state trust funds totaling $20.4 billion and federal funds totaling $24.5 billion. Additionally, the budget increases the commitment to Pre-K-12 education funding by more than $1 billion. The budget also sets aside more than $2.46 billion in reserves.

House Democrats, in voting against the fiscal package, were quick to issue a statement declaring the budget fails to adequately address the needs of the people of Florida.

"I recognize that this is a very difficult budget. I am voting 'no' because I don't like the 8 percent tuition hikes included in this budget, House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders, D-Key West, stated in a release.

I think the tuition hike imposes a tax on the middle class. I also don't like the cuts to vital health-care programs in this budget. We are losing valuable federal funds by these cuts.

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