With state revenues 16 percent below where they were a year ago, Florida Legislators are starting to circulate lists of ideas for how to handle the cutbacks without raising taxes. Senate budget chief Lisa Carlton last week showed budget committee members a sheet detailing how drastic the cuts could be. The cuts amount to $2.59 billion and include: a $1.4 billion cut from education, $700 million from health programs, and nearly $400 million from prisons and juvenile justice.
Across the board cuts appear inevitable as both chambers prepare to give their cut allocations to committee chairman next week, ranging from 6 to 10 percent. The House will hold the Amendment 1 school impact harmless -- $179 million -- and make exceptions for public safety, sources said, but there will be no sacred cows.
The Herald has also learned the House is likely to delay the governor's climate-change initiatives and teacher merit pay and postpone a plan to renew Florida Forever, the program that purchases land for conservation, as well as Everglades restoration. It wants to freeze the Medicaid rate increase taking effect in July for hospitals, nursing homes and other health providers to save $340 million. And the Senate is considering a similar freeze for a $316 million savings. More here.
The Senate, meanwhile, is likely to force deeper cuts because of a economic stimulas package that focuses on transportation building and infrastruture.The House won't be doing that, so it will be one of the biggest budget fights they'll have.
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