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This site is provided for the professional Florida Department of Corrections Correctional Officers working in Florida's Prison System.
A source for officers to keep informed, exchange information, share ideas, discuss issues and problems within the department, and communicate with fellow officers.
 
Christ to restore 66 probation officer jobs
Crist pulls out his veto pen
Backs funding for certified teachers, officers
news-press.com wire services • January 23, 2009

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist has vowed to use his line-item veto power next week to reverse at least some of the budget cuts passed by lawmakers, including a 2 percent cut to a program that pays teachers a bonus for earning national board certification.

The Legislature last week produced a $2.6 billion budget-balancing package that included $1.2 billion in spending cuts.

Crist also said he would restore cuts that cost 66 rookie probation officers their jobs. The Department of Corrections announced the layoffs a day after lawmakers adjourned.

“It shouldn’t shock you that as a former attorney general and education commissioner, that public education and public safety are near and dear to my heart," Crist said.

The governor has until next week to act on the Legislature's budget. Crist spoke to a gathering of newspaper editors from around the state.

"That's great," Lee County public schools Superintendent James Browder said. "But we need to make sure the cuts next year don't go up exponentially."

Brad Cornell, a policy advocate for Audubon of Florida, hopes Crist restores the Florida Forever program, which is used to buy land for conservation. If not, four Lee County properties would get the ax: Depot Park and Carpenter Lane River Park in Bonita Springs; Yucca Pens Unit in north Lee County and Pine Island Preserve at Matlacha Pass.

"We recognize there are huge constraints this year, but Gov. Charlie Crist recognizes how important that program is," Cornell said.

House Speaker Ray Sansom said Crist should suggest ways to offset items he vetoes in a deficit-elimination package.

Senate President Jeff Athingyer, a North Palm Beach Republican, said he and Sansom would grant Crist's request to delay his budget recommendations by 18 days until Feb. 20 due to the deficit package.

Sansom focused most of his remarks on the state economy and his plans for dealing with a potentially $4 billion budget shortfall this spring.

He said the House will target state agencies for elimination or consolidation if lawmakers determine they have overlapping missions. He declined to give specific examples or say how many jobs the state may have to eliminate.

Sansom also promised to revive a controversial plan to eliminate the billions of dollars worth of property taxes that the state levies for schools and replace it with an increase in sales taxes.

- Staff writer Ryan Hiraki contributed to this report

 
 

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