State Education Union Taxed By Budget Cuts, Requests More Funds

TALLAHASSEE - Marcia Israeloff isn't crazy about paying taxes. But the vice president of south Tampa's Gorrie Elementary PTA said lawmakers need to do something to help Florida's ailing schools.

``I know they're scared to raise taxes, scared they might not get re-elected,'' she said in an interview Thursday. ``But somewhere along the line, somebody's got to do something.''

Lawmakers and lobbyists are beginning to agree. Florida's largest teachers union on Thursday called for lawmakers to increase taxes more than $1 billion next year.

Legislators are cutting hundreds of millions from K-12 funding this month to address a nearly $1 billion budget deficit.

``The Florida public education system cannot afford more cuts,'' said Maureen Dinnen, president of the Florida Education Association, who blames three years of Republican-driven tax cuts for the budget mess.

Restore the state's tax on stock portfolios to 1999 rates, which the group says would generate $700 million.

Restore the education-dedicated portion of the property tax to 1999 levels, which it says would be worth $414 million.

Restore the tax on alcoholic beverages to 1999 rates, which it says would add $40 million.

Implement a temporary half-cent increase in the sales tax for one year, which would add about $800 million.

``A sales tax is not one of our first choices,'' said David Clark, a union spokesman. ``But we're desperate here.''

The Florida Home Builders Association supports a tax increase for school construction if it lessens the need for impact fees paid by new homeowners in urban areas.

The Florida School Boards Association will meet with education and local government groups next month to propose a tax reform plan.

``If the recession continues, we're going to have to look for a one-shot sales tax hike that can get us through next year without laying people off,'' said the association's executive director, Wayne Blanton.

Talk of tax increases in Tallahassee was unimaginable earlier this year. But an economic swoon exacerbated by the terrorist attacks changed that.

Last month, the Senate narrowly defeated a push to raise property taxes. And earlier this week, the top Senate Republican said tax increases might be necessary next year if the economy founders.

But House Republicans and Gov. Jeb Bush refuse to consider raising taxes. And a prominent tax watchdog said the odds of a tax increase next year, when politicians will be sensitive to re-election campaigns, are small.

``I just don't see it happening,'' said Dominic Calabro, president of Florida TaxWatch. ``It's difficult to ask voters to pay more before government has made cuts and exhausted all of its reserve funds.''

Taxpayers might have the chance to vote on a sweeping tax reform next November. Senate President John McKay, R-Bradenton, is pushing a constitutional amendment that would lower the sales tax rate from 6 percent to 4 percent while expanding the number of items and services that would be taxed.

Israeloff supports the plan, saying it will lessen reliance on tourism-related tax revenue.

``Being dependent on revenue from out of state to fund our core projects is insane,'' she said.

You may be interested in this. This point surprised me though:

The Florida Home Builders Association supports a tax increase for school construction if it lessens the need for impact fees paid by new homeowners in urban areas.

Wouldn't you think that one of the reasons we need so much school construction is BECAUSE of homebuilding? Why not use impact fees. The money has to come from somewhere.

They could raise the schools budget to 100% of the state budget, hire 100,000 new teachers and post guards at all schools and they STILL would deliver lackluster graduates. Memo to all parents: Teacher's unions exist to represent DUES-PAYING TEACHERS, not students. They do NOT, at their leadership level, look out for your kids.
The state could cut another billion from its budget and the average citizen would never notice...

But somewhere along the line, somebody's got to do something.

Privatize.

Agreed. Just like the leadership of unions, they are primarily concerned with their own need bank accounts than serving the interest of their members. Or in this case "the children".

Having said that, I know plenty of GREAT teachers in both public and private schools.

"But somewhere along the line, somebody's got to do something. "

move to canada; everythings free...cuz they're "real socialists"

Me, too. But they're getting screwed by the very "goonions" which are supposed to help. However, the goonions do this regularly, in all industries. Sad, they had a place once, a century ago, but they were hijacked during the middle of the century by organized crime elements and communists. Their current tactics of intimidation, violence, and denial of basic rights (right-to-work, anyone) reflect this heritage.

Wouldn't you think that one of the reasons we need so much school construction is BECAUSE of homebuilding? Why not use impact fees. The money has to come from somewhere.

My understanding is that what you are saying is Gov. Bush's position, and by sticking to his position, he is risking losing their endorsement. But, you and Gov, Bush are right on this issue, IMO.

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