Tampabay.com
MARCH 18, 2008

Pickens glum on '08-09 schools money

Don't look to Palatka Rep. Joe Pickens for Charlie Crist-like optimism and sunshine, not when it comes to next year's budget.

He opened up the Schools and Learning Council meeting this afternoon with this soundbite: "However bad you believe it will be, it will be worse than that. We will be decreasing the budget. I don't forsee there being any additional entities held harmless going into next year."

Ouch.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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