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//