Budget Concerneds Addressed By Governor Crist

A day after Florida lawmakers delayed a Special Session to cut more than one-billion dollars from the state budget, Governor Charlie Crist unveiled his own plan to deal with the shortfall.

He's banking on a better economic outlook next year.

State lawmakers and the governor are at odds on how to cut more than a billion dollars from the state budget. The disagreement has postponed a planned session in September and created more uncertainty among agencies.

Democrat Curtis Richardson is disappointed in the delay.

State Rep. Curtis Richardson / (D) Tallahassee: "Our only constitutional responsibility is to develop a state budget. And it's our job as legislators to accomplish that and not wait for the executive branch."

A day after the postponement, Governor Charlie Crist suggested a roadmap for shaving spending. One suggestion … letting workers at Motor Vehicle offices stop wearing uniforms… the savings 350-thousand dollars. But that's not all he has in mind.

Gov. Charlie Crist / (R) Florida: "What we're suggesting is that we spend about a billion dollars that's just sitting in reserve right now."

The governor is banking on a better economy next year, which he believes will spare education, programs for the poor and public safety from the budget ax.

Democrats in the House hope that when lawmakers finally do meet, they look at ways to increase revenue, not just cut programs.

But except for a tuition hike, tax increases aren't likely. The real challenge is for lawmakers to decide whether to make cuts, or dip into the state savings account.

Florida House And Senate leaders say they still plan to call a Special Session later this fall
Special Session Cancellation Leads Governor To Address Budget Shortfalls