Scott's 'historic' budget for public schools is a sham

Gov. Rick Scott calls his proposed education budget historic. What he doesn't mention is that historic here is no higher than 42nd in per pupil spending nationwide, even behind the states of Alabama and Georgia.

He also doesn't mention that most of the new money is going to come from higher property taxes.

Finally, I don't think it should be lost on anyone that the $500 million in increased spending is almost dollar for dollar what is diverted away from the state coffers to pay for the state's voucher programs.

Most of that money goes to religious schools, and the entire program has barely any oversight or accountability.

Gov. Scott in effect is saying let's try and educate our children on the cheap and raise taxes to pay for vouchers. So in a way it is historic; it is just historically bad for the taxpayers and families of Florida.

Chris Guerrieri

Jacksonville

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Scott's 'historic' budget for public schools is a sham ."