Fla. lawmakers nearing deficit reduction deal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Legislature neared agreement Wednesday on about $1.2 billion in spending cuts for schools, health care, social services and other state functions to help avoid a budget deficit of at least $2.3 billion.

The rest of the impending shortfall would be made up by increasing traffic fines, tapping reserves and shifting or borrowing money from trust funds including an endowment that invests the state’s tobacco settlement for future use on health care programs for children and the elderly.

Lawmakers are meeting in a two-week special session that began Monday, but many Democrats want to put the brakes on the process.

They say Florida’s share of Democratic President-elect Barack Obama’s promised stimulus package would reduce the need for many of the spending cuts.

“I have a great deal of faith in the leadership of the incoming administration and I think it will be coming,“ said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota.

Republicans said they’ve already built in provisions to utilize the stimulus money if it becomes available.

“I’m amused, but saddened, that the same House Democrats who for months stressed the importance of getting into special session now call on us to sit on our hands,“ said House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach.

Two House panels were set to vote on the chamber’s deficit reduction package later Wednesday, with floor action set for Thursday.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee will consider a similar plan in committee Thursday. The full Senate will take it up Friday. Conference committees then will try to resolve differences before final votes are taken next week.

Both chambers, though, are in virtual agreement on some of the biggest cuts including about $600 million from education — half of the total. Public schools would absorb a 2 percent cut — about $140 per student — while state universities and community colleges are facing 4 percent reductions.

Lawmakers also appear to agree on raising traffic ticket fines to generate about $16 million more for the rest of this budget year, which ends June 30, and $63 million next year.

A Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill to increase all traffic fines by $10. Also, some of the speediest of speeding violators would pay $25 more.

The fine for 15-19 miles per hour above the limit would increase from $125 to $150. For 20-29 miles per hour it would go from $150 to $175.

Also, violators no longer would get an 18 percent break on their fine if they go to traffic school.

Prisons and the court system would lose staff positions but most of those jobs are unfilled, said Sen. Victor Crist, who chairs the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee.

His panel passed the reduction. Crist said it would ensure “that we kept the prison doors shut and our courts open for business.“

Meanwhile, the House wants to cut prison education and mental health programs while the Senate does not, Crist said.

Both chambers have provisions that would force teachers and other school employees to take pay cuts in districts that are in severe financial trouble. The Senate version would apply only if needed to prevent a deficit. The House measure would kick in sooner, if a district’s general fund balance dips below 2 percent of its budget.

Ron Meyer, a lawyer for the Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers union, said both measures would be unconstitutional and unnecessary because existing law already requires new contract negotiations if a district runs out of money.

“The school janitor, the school teacher has nothing to do with establishing a fund balance,“ Meyer said. “And yet those employees are the employees who are going to be asked to make up the deficit.“

The Senate and House also agree on reducing bonuses for teachers who obtain national board certification. The bonus would drop from 10 percent to 8 percent of average statewide teacher pay. Lawmakers last year eliminated a second 10 percent bonus for certified teachers who mentor their colleagues.

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Associated Press Writer Jessica Gresko contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.