Governor Scott: Florida Per Student Spending To Be Highest Next Year
More spending on K-12 level schools could be on the way next year because Florida’s Revenue Estimating Conference for the General Revenue Fund met on August 7, 2014 and determined that the Sunshine State will see sustained tax revenues. Florida is projected to have a growth of nearly $1.1 billion over the latest 2014-15 revised forecast.
As a result of this revised forecast, Florida Governor Rick Scott has proposed state spending on Florida's K-12 level schools that would equate to a total of over $19.6 billion, which means $7,176 per student – a $232 per student increase over this school year and a $50 increase over the 2007-08 per student funding level of $7,126, the previous record high level.
“Florida job growth, and the overall growth of Florida’s economy has made it possible for us invest record amounts in education," Governor Rick Scott said in a release. "The credit for our historic investment in education goes to the hard working people of Florida who make it all possible.”
“I am proud to announce that in the upcoming legislative session we will propose an increase in Florida’s per-pupil spending to the highest level in our state’s history," said Scott. "We already have the highest total spending in K-12 this year and gave every teacher the opportunity for a pay raise. Because we were able to get Florida’s economy back on track, revenues are now projected to stay at a strong enough rate to support historic investments in education.”