Floridians get four hours to make budget suggestions

TALLAHASSEE — The state Legislature will give the public a fleeting chance to sound off next week before making deep cuts in programs to patch a $2.3-billion budget deficit.

House Speaker Ray Sansom on Tuesday released a tentative schedule for the two-week special session starting Monday at the state Capitol.

On that day only, from 1 to 5 p.m., Sansom said, House budget committees will meet and take testimony as they "review proposed budget adjustments."

"We will maintain an open and transparent budgeting process and give Floridians the opportunity to provide their input," Sansom said in a statement.

Not really, countered House Democrats. They said Republicans have already agreed on a strategy of fixing the budget shortfall by relying on cuts to programs and raids on budget savings accounts without talk of new or higher taxes.

"It is a positive step that they are allowing public input, but it seems that a lot of things have already been predetermined," said Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, second-ranking member of the House Democratic caucus. "There hasn't been serious consideration given to new revenue. … Everything ought to be on the table."

The problem is that Florida's $65-billion state budget is short $2.3-billion because the weak economy has reduced tax revenues from such things as the state sales tax and documentary stamps.

Thompson said more cuts in the budget could result in the loss of government jobs, which she said would drive up the state's unemployment rate.

Democrats say Republicans will further decide how much must be cut in each budget policy area by giving targets, or allocations, to the respective budget committees. Those decisions should be discussed in public, the minority said.

The House Democratic leader, Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston, said Monday a privately crafted budget deal may be convenient, but added: "It is more appropriate that the public be allowed to participate in a frank conversation involving all budget options."

During last year's regular session, Democrats repeatedly criticized what they called a series of backroom deals on the budget, with scant advice from them or the public.

The two parties come to the budget crisis with a clear difference: Republicans oppose new taxes and Democrats favor certain taxes, such as a cigarette tax hike of up to $1 per pack, as an alternative to cuts in such things as education and health care.

Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, refiled the cigarette tax increase Tuesday, saying it could generate $700-million a year in revenue plus at least $750-million in federal matching funds.

Florida's cigarette tax of 33.9 cents a pack is lower than 45 other states' and has not been raised since 1990.

The special session is scheduled to run from Jan. 5 to 16, but the reduced budget must be agreed upon by Tuesday, Jan. 13. That's because the state Constitution requires a three-day "cooling off" period during which lawmakers and the public can review the budget changes before a final vote by Friday.

Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.