Gov. Charlie Crist's budget office just announced that state will holdback 15 percent of agencies allocated budget for money the remainder of the fiscal year which ends on June 30th. This will undoubtedly require immediate cuts to education ( including public universities), courts, law enforcement and health care services.The budget hold back could force universities, such as FAMU, to cancel one or more summer sessions, reduce class sections, layoff faculty,and otherwise reduce services to balance the budget. From the governor's press release: " Exceptions to this action are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis through the normal amendatory process."
The Governor's letter said, "this precautionary measure will allow us to continue managing cash flow effectively and monitor the revenue collections in the upcoming month."
Already, FAMU has lost $18.5 million of its budget to state budget cuts.
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Governor's letter
Excuse me, but this is incorrect. The Governor's 15-percent holdback only goes for agency budgets under his control. Universities are not under is jurisdiction. Therefore, although there may be cuts coming- Universities are now sustaining any right now. Thank you.
ReplyDelete8:55,
ReplyDeleteUniversities got this same hold back notice from the BOG.
Any state agency that is given public funds are convered. SUS not withstanding.
ReplyDeleteTime to close those tax loop holes Gov. Crist !!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is terrible. FAMU's already suffered a double-whammy due to the money we lost for declining enrollment under Castell. If this reduction stands, layoffs are a sure thing.
ReplyDeleteCall Legislators --- especially Republicans--- and tell them to close the tax loop holes NOW!!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's the issue. The state can pass the gaming compact- you only get 300-million. We can institute a one-cent sales tax increase- that's a billion a year. We can close every single sales tax loophole we have: that gives us 750-million...
ReplyDeleteThat gives us 2-billion dollars for next fiscal year...
The state of Florida has a 6 billion dollar deficit (3 billion a year if you include the stimulus)
We will STILL be short the money we need. Fact is, we're going to have to take more cuts...its a consequence of the economy.
Second, many people say we should "reduce government waste"
I ask- what do you propose they cut? Medicaid? Unemployment? EMS, Police? Education, Roads, Cut of Utilities?
All of this is government. Pick one.
No one is spending money- and that's part of the problem. And its crippling Florida because our money is generated through the sales tax. We have no alternatives.
The state needs to diversify its tax base. But that would be unpopular with the masses.
No one wants an income tax. No one wants to even increase the sales tax...so when people complain about layoffs, firings and funding...again I ask...
What are YOU willing to contribute?
So tell me why we pay taxes when you by a product like Turbo Taxes, but don't pay a tax when you pay an accountant to do your taxes? Is that fair?
ReplyDeleteWhy you pay a tax when you buy a magazine at a newsstand, but don't pay a tax when you buy a newspaper? Is that fair?
2:06, Don't mention that woman's name up in here, up in here. Let sleeping dogs stay under their rotting logs.
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