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:

 

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/CAPITOLNEWS/801310323/1010/NEWS01

 

 

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