Student Success:Student Success:what will it take in ’09?what will it take in ’09?

Presented to Presented to Monroe County Public School AdvocatesMonroe County Public School Advocates

February, 2009February, 2009

Where Are We Exactly?Where Are We Exactly?

We are facing the We are facing the worstworst budget budget

Florida has seen in over 30 yearsFlorida has seen in over 30 years

School Districts across the state School Districts across the state

have absorbed cut after cut due to a decline in have absorbed cut after cut due to a decline in state revenue and property taxes state revenue and property taxes

School districts have cut programs and staff School districts have cut programs and staff which could which could dramatically affect students and diminish future educational opportunities

NowNow is the time to advocate for Florida’s kids is the time to advocate for Florida’s kids

How Did We Get Here?How Did We Get Here?

A toxic combination of A toxic combination of – poor state policy on education financepoor state policy on education finance– short-sighted resource managementshort-sighted resource management

by legislatorsby legislators– an unhealthy national economyan unhealthy national economy

This did not happen overnightThis did not happen overnight

We can’t fix it immediatelyWe can’t fix it immediately

We can’t ignore it and hope it will go awayWe can’t ignore it and hope it will go away

Poor State Education Policy:Poor State Education Policy:Florida Consistently Underfunds EducationFlorida Consistently Underfunds Education

Florida continues to rank at the bottom nationally Florida continues to rank at the bottom nationally in % of income $ spent on education in % of income $ spent on education

Florida Report Card 2009Florida Report Card 2009

Source: Quality CountsSource: Quality Counts GradeGrade

AccountabilityAccountability AAEquitable Distribution of FundsEquitable Distribution of Funds AA

Chance for SuccessChance for Success C+C+Funding per studentFunding per student FF

Poor State Tax Policy:Poor State Tax Policy:Florida places too much burden on Florida places too much burden on local property taxes for education $local property taxes for education $

FloridaFlorida ranks 11 ranks 11thth of 12 of 12 southeastern states in % of southeastern states in % of local tax burdenlocal tax burden

Only Virginia has a greater Only Virginia has a greater local burdenlocal burden

Poor State Tax Policy:Poor State Tax Policy:Florida relies too heavily on sales taxFlorida relies too heavily on sales tax

Florida Ranks 47th in overall Tax Florida Ranks 47th in overall Tax burden based on household incomeburden based on household income

Florida tax revenue relies too heavily Florida tax revenue relies too heavily on a single 6 cent sales taxon a single 6 cent sales tax

Florida exempts more goods and Florida exempts more goods and services than it taxesservices than it taxes

Result: Low tax burden combined with Result: Low tax burden combined with volatile sales tax base producesvolatile sales tax base producesan unpredictable revenue stream an unpredictable revenue stream

Short-sighted Resource Short-sighted Resource Management by Legislators:Management by Legislators:

Inconsistent policy due to term limitsInconsistent policy due to term limits Legislators come to Legislators come to TallahasseeTallahassee with to-do with to-do

list and little time to accomplish goalslist and little time to accomplish goalsResult: Short term fixes co-opt good long term Result: Short term fixes co-opt good long term policypolicyLobbyists are more familiar with process and tend Lobbyists are more familiar with process and tend to drive policy developmentto drive policy developmentExample: Prison funding increased 6% over the Example: Prison funding increased 6% over the past two years while education funds were cutpast two years while education funds were cutWhere is the policy that creates greater need for Where is the policy that creates greater need for an educated work force than for new prisons?an educated work force than for new prisons?

Short-sighted Resource Management:Short-sighted Resource Management:Over the last decade, legislators shifted tax burden Over the last decade, legislators shifted tax burden

to local property tax payers to local property tax payers

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1999 2009

State $

Local $

Over last decade, local shareOver last decade, local share

increased from increased from 39% 39% toto 51% 51%

State contributed only a smallState contributed only a small

% of new $ for education % of new $ for education

Nearly all of the $3B+ cameNearly all of the $3B+ came

from local property taxesfrom local property taxes

Higher property taxes stressedHigher property taxes stressed

homeowners’ wallets homeowners’ wallets

Led to tax revolt and Amendment 1 whichLed to tax revolt and Amendment 1 which

reduced education funding even morereduced education funding even more

Short-sighted Resource Management:Short-sighted Resource Management:Florida revenues have not kept upFlorida revenues have not kept up

with needs of the populationwith needs of the population

$20B in tax cuts passed by Legislature$20B in tax cuts passed by Legislaturein last decade during boom timesin last decade during boom times

Trust funds raided each year to cover shortfalls from tax Trust funds raided each year to cover shortfalls from tax cuts cuts

Non-recurring revenue repeatedly drawn on to cover Non-recurring revenue repeatedly drawn on to cover recurring costsrecurring costs

Florida SBA fund lacked sufficient oversight; many local Florida SBA fund lacked sufficient oversight; many local governments lost short term investment $ in 2007 governments lost short term investment $ in 2007

Result: Florida reserves were nearly non-existentResult: Florida reserves were nearly non-existent

when national fiscal crisis hitwhen national fiscal crisis hit

Unhealthy National Economy:Unhealthy National Economy:State General Revenues down $5B in Two YearsState General Revenues down $5B in Two Years

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

2006 2007 2008

FL Revenuein Millions

Real estate transactions Real estate transactions drastically reduceddrastically reduced

Sales tax income down 11%Sales tax income down 11%

Big-ticket sales tax down Big-ticket sales tax down drastically (autos/electronics) drastically (autos/electronics)

Result: Multiple education Result: Multiple education budget cuts during each of last budget cuts during each of last two school years two school years

More of the same!More of the same!If no new revenue sources are identified,If no new revenue sources are identified,

expect $3 Billion in further cutsexpect $3 Billion in further cutsWe expect at least a 10% cut over our current We expect at least a 10% cut over our current budget of about $87Mbudget of about $87MOur district will consider more drastic cutsOur district will consider more drastic cutsClearly this is not a good strategy for Florida Clearly this is not a good strategy for Florida public education policypublic education policy

What Can We ExpectWhat Can We ExpectNext Year?Next Year?

$avings $uggestions$avings $uggestions

Delay Textbook adoptionDelay Textbook adoptionFlexibility with categoricalsFlexibility with categoricalsHiring freezeHiring freezeCancel summer schoolCancel summer schoolCancel after school programsCancel after school programsCut gifted programsCut gifted programsCut school discretionary spendingCut school discretionary spendingCut travel to essential trips onlyCut travel to essential trips onlyGrant funded trips must include funds for substitutesGrant funded trips must include funds for substitutesRaise temperature in schoolsRaise temperature in schoolsInstitute dark campuses when unoccupied or minimum lighting for securityInstitute dark campuses when unoccupied or minimum lighting for securityNo extensions of DROPNo extensions of DROPTeach 6th period without supplementTeach 6th period without supplementHold harmless for class sizeHold harmless for class sizeCut number of electivesCut number of electivesRevise budget for lower cost of fuelRevise budget for lower cost of fuelAll employees work one day without payAll employees work one day without payCut hours for auditorium managersCut hours for auditorium managers

How Can We Fix This Mess?How Can We Fix This Mess?

Level out the tax base to decrease volatilityLevel out the tax base to decrease volatility– Sunset all tax exemptions over a three year periodSunset all tax exemptions over a three year period– Only renew those that demonstrably improve the Only renew those that demonstrably improve the

Florida economyFlorida economy– Cut sales tax as appropriateCut sales tax as appropriate

Consider other sources of revenueConsider other sources of revenue– Tobacco and alcohol tax increasesTobacco and alcohol tax increases– Increase % revenue from gambling Increase % revenue from gambling – Impose internet sales taxImpose internet sales tax

What Can I Do to HelpWhat Can I Do to HelpRight NowRight Now ? ?

Get motivatedGet motivated

Get informedGet informed

Organize and collaborate with other advocatesOrganize and collaborate with other advocates

Contact state and federal representatives to Contact state and federal representatives to make sure Monroe County kids get their fair make sure Monroe County kids get their fair shareshare

Find ways to help your school through the short Find ways to help your school through the short term crisisterm crisis

Why is MCSD Why is MCSD a Good Investment?a Good Investment?

District rated A by state for three years straightDistrict rated A by state for three years straight

Ranked in top 10% on most accountability Ranked in top 10% on most accountability statisticsstatistics

Teachers paid at highest level in stateTeachers paid at highest level in state

We dramatically reduced our dropout rateWe dramatically reduced our dropout rate

Most of our students go on to further educationMost of our students go on to further education

So what will it take in ’09?So what will it take in ’09?

YourYour voice—contact legislatorsvoice—contact legislators

YourYour action—connect with other parents action—connect with other parents and friends of public educationand friends of public education

Your Your advocacy—join PTA’s Rally in Tally advocacy—join PTA’s Rally in Tally March 18, 2009 at the CapitolMarch 18, 2009 at the Capitol

Let them know our kids deserve their fair Let them know our kids deserve their fair share of the state budgetshare of the state budget

Resources to ConsultResources to ConsultMarch 18March 18thth Event in Tallahassee Event in Tallahasseeorganized by FL PTA organized by FL PTA www.floridapta.orgwww.floridapta.org// and Florida School Boards and Florida School Boards Association Association www.fsba.org/educationlegislation.aspwww.fsba.org/educationlegislation.asp

5050thth No More No More www.50thnomore.orgwww.50thnomore.org

Floridians 4 Educational ExcellenceFloridians 4 Educational Excellence (advocacy tools) (advocacy tools) http://floridians4educationalexcellence.community.officelive.com/default.aspx/http://floridians4educationalexcellence.community.officelive.com/default.aspx/

Greater Florida Consortium of School BoardsGreater Florida Consortium of School Boards www.keysschools.com/gfcsb/www.keysschools.com/gfcsb/

National School Boards AssociationNational School Boards Association www.nsba.orgwww.nsba.org//

Once Upon a SchoolOnce Upon a School (fundraising) (fundraising) www.onceuponaschool.orgwww.onceuponaschool.org//