Colleges decry budget cuts

TAMPA - Proposed cuts to higher education would slice deep, leaving college students on edge.

Florida lawmakers are currently negotiating the state budget, which is short by $3 billion dollars.

To make up the deficit, the legislature is considering as much as a half billion cuts to higher education.

"It's unfortunate," said University of South Florida student Kelly McKinley. "We have classes being cut next semester that would have been amazing."

USF President Judy Genshaft, joining other public university presidents in Tallahassee Thursday, decried the budget proposal.

"Over the past two years we've taken a 15 percent cut and that is approximately $53 million dollars," she said. "As we look toward another worst case scenario of $72 million in one year, it's very, very difficult."

Some of the state's universities have said they must altogether eliminate some degree programs.

That pus third and fourth year students with an uneasy position: they've studied for a degree they'll no longer be able to obtain.

"There's nothing I could do but leave," said USF student Antoinette Stewart. "I know what I want to major in, I know what I want to do. And, that's what I'm going to do."

State law enforcement officers rallied in Tallahassee today—arguing pay and job cuts are aimed at crime fighting, too.

"You all need to learn how to defend yourselves because your government may not be able to do it for you," said John Rivera with the Police Benevolent Association.

At the same time lawmakers are mulling deep budget cuts, there are also proposals to bring in new money, including a proposal from Seminole Indians to immediately infuse hundreds of millions of dollars into the state budget.

The Seminole Tribe is offering the money in exchange for the state's blessing of its new Las Vegas-style games. The legislature must approve that plan.

"I think that they'll be pleased with the kind generous offer from our friends the Seminoles," said Gov. Charlie Crist.

Other suggestions to increase revenue include an increase in fees such as motor vehicle registration, fishing licenses, and court costs.

Florida's house is also pushing a long-range plan to allow oil drilling offshore. A presentation this week estimated oil revenue at $1.6 billion per year.

Tourism experts say risking the beaches, which contribute to $500 billion in visitor dollars, for $1.6 billion in oil money is a mistake.

"The beaches are really what brings people down and we don't want to take any chances with our number one asset," said D.T. Minich, who heads Visit St. Petersburg-Clearwater, the Pinellas visitors and convention bureau.

Lawmakers must approve a spending plan by next week or face the possibility of an extended session. Each additional day the legislature meets costs taxpayers $40,000.