The Florida Education Association is mounting a challenge against the property tax plan but is holding off on a formal campaign in hopes of exacting an iron-clad guarantee that schools will be held harmless.

And a mere promise from Gov. Charlie Crist won't cut it. "I need something in my hand, a verbal commitment doesn't get me anything, " FEA President Andy Ford said during a 1 p.m. news conference.

Ford estimated the proposal could cut $1.8-billion to $3-billion over five years. "Let me say clearly, that the current proposal does not hold education harmless and as promised, the FEA cannot support and will not support the current plan in its current form, based upon the information we have today."

Crist, who called Ford Tuesday, and lawmakers have promised to
restore the money but educators want more than a promise. What that
could resemble remains to be seen. Ford said the organization would
continue to talk with Crist and legislative leaders in advance of the
regular session.

Meanwhile, the group will conduct polling and marshal other forces
for a potential assault on the plan, which doubles the homestead
exemption, provides Save Our Homes portability and caps nonhomestead
property assessments at 10 percent annually.

Ford said "it's always a possibility" to challenge the proposal on the grounds that portability is unconstitutional. "We have had preliminary conversations with a variety of people and our options are still open at this point."