Rick Scott's budget proposal includes hike in per pupil spending

After overseeing $1.3 billion in K-12 education cuts in his first year in office in 2011, Gov. Rick Scott drew criticism for Florida's lack of investment in public schools. He later supported increases to K-12 education and vowed in his second campaign that he would up his investment even more. His most recent budget proposal takes steps to do that, including meeting a campaign goal of spending $7,176 per student.

On Jan. 28, Scott released his $77 billion budget proposal, which spends most of the $1 billion surplus on tax cuts and an increase in education spending. Scott proposed $19.75 billion for K-12, up from about $18.9 billion in the current budget. That includes $7,176 per pupil, which is about a $261 increase compared to the current year.

Local taxpayers will help foot that bill. The Tampa Bay Times reported that while the state will kick in $391 million, Scott's education spending plan relies on a $452 million increase in revenue that will be financed by keeping the local property tax rate of 5.089 the same. While that's not a rate increase, most homeowners will pay more as their values rise.

Scott's per pupil proposal is a record high -- but not if adjusted for inflation compared to the 2007-08 school year. His proposed figure is about $640 short of the high watermark, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index inflation calculator.

Although the amount is not as high if adjusted for inflation, the increase is still significant because it is a "substantial increase" compared to the current year, said Ruth Haseman Melton, government relations director for the Florida School Boards Association.

"He is making an honest effort to follow through on what he promised," she said.

We won't know the outcome of Scott's education proposal until the state Legislature takes action -- the session starts March 3. For now, we rate this promise In the Works.