Everyone,
There is an interesting article in the Miami Herald today about the deep cuts to schools... Please read below.
Also, I received an email about Port Orange Budget for the fire department, which is posted below as well.
Another one of our crack research members emailed me the following:
Well it seems the TBRC is also looking into how much school money goes into
administration. This is off of their website and is a proposal to cut school administration which is taking 51% of a 12+ billion dollars a year (2006)!
Please read this proposal because it tells the sad story of education in ourstate! Only 49% of this money makes it to the schools. Please be aware they are not speaking about administration at the school level, ie. Those that work in the offices administratively at the schools or the principals -those expenses are considered "direct school budget" or classroom as is
referred to in this piece.
If anyone would like to receive this proposal, please email me as it is under adobe acrobat reader and is a big pdf file....
As for the removal of the School Board tax off the tax rolls and replacing it with a revenue neutral funding source, the Tallahassee newspapers are reporting "State should pick up local school tab, Wetherell says".. Please go to this following link:
Crist budget may lead to tax hike
Gov. Charlie Crist unveiled a $70 billion budget that avoids deep spending cuts but relies on increased property taxes, more money from gambling and raiding dedicated accounts.
PROPERTY TAXES
The governor's budget also relies on a $337.8 million increase in local property tax revenue collections. School districts can make up that money if there is natural growth in property assessments because of rising property values. But if property values and revenues fall, districts might have to raise the tax rate to make up the difference.
The irony of raising taxes to pay for tax cuts wasn't lost on Broward school officials this week as they began trying to figure out how to overcome the $145 million loss to schools that Amendment 1 will cost the district over the next five years.
''So it looks like we're raising taxes,'' board member Bob Parks said. ``Don't you love America?''
Miami Herald staff writer Nirvi Shah contributed to this report.
For full story go here:
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/401893.html
All for now
Margie
www.volusiataxreform.com
Port Orange Fire Rescue; Historical Budget Information
Personel;
2003; 64
2004; 64
2005; 64
2006: 67
2007: 68
Fire Rescue Operating Costs;
2003; $5,272,813.................................($82,387 per firefighter)
2004; $6,121,337
2005; $6,207,958
2006; $6,589,472
2007; $7,284,026............................. (.$107,118 per firefighter)
2003-2007; 38 percent increase/ 9.5 percent annual average increase
Fire Marshall/ Fire Prevention Operating Costs;
2003; $106,360
2004; $185,000
2005; $218,906
2006; $229,851
2007; $241,343
2003-2007; 127 percent increase/31.75 percent annual averge increase
Public Education Program Operating Costs
2003; $52,767
2004; $68,104
2005; $77,271
2006; $81,125
2007; $62,100
2003-2007;19 percent increase/4.75 percent annual averge increase
Training Division Operating Costs
2003*
2004: $68,104
2005; $77,261
2006: $81,125
2007; $62,100
2004-2007; 9 percent decrease/2.25 percent annual average decrease
*The Training Division did not appear in the Budget in 2003
Pension Plan Costs;
2003-$356,000................$5,562 per Firefighter
2004-$597,000
2005-$951,000
2006-$1,200,000
2007-$1,400,000.................$20,588 per Firefighter
Consumer Price Index ( CPI)
2003; 2.3 percent
2004; 2.7 percent
2005; 3.4 percent
2006; 3.2 percent
2007; 2.8 percent
