In 1972, when I was in the First Grade, Duval County Public Schools were not accredited. The system as a whole was incapable of doing its job. (Fortunately for me, my parents, and especially my mother, chose to sacrifice a great deal so that I could attend a private school.)
By 1985, when I graduated from high school, Stanton College Preparatory School was just beginning to earn its reputation as one of the best high schools, public or private, in the nation.
Today, I have a nine year old son, in the Third Grade, who has attended private schools since kindergarten. His mother and I recently decided we would like for him to attend a public school, Pine Forest Elementary School, next year. It's not that we're good liberals and believe in public education. It's not that we can no longer afford private school. It's that we believe Pine Forest, a dedicated magnet school for the visual and performing arts, can best meet our son's needs.
Obviously, the Duval County Public Schools have come a long way.
Of course, upon hearing the recent news from Tallahassee, I'm fearful. As a parent, I'm afraid we might be making the wrong decision, that our son may not receive the education he needs. As a citizen, I'm fearful for what a failing public school system means to our children's future, to society's future.
The Florida Legislature is still debating next year's budget. Among the options being considered are an increase in the state sales tax and a deal to allow casinos on Seminole lands in south Florida.
At first thought, it's encouraging that the Legislature is considering a tax increase, in a state where budgets have for far too long been balanced by reducing services. Take a closer look, though, and a sales tax increase doesn't seem like such a good idea to me.
I know what you're thinking - Of course sales taxes are the way to pay for everything! Why not let all the tourists pay? That is certainly the "conventional wisdom" here in Florida.
First of all, tourists aren't the only people who pay sales taxes. You and I pay sales taxes on nearly everything we buy, except unprepared food. Furthermore, sales taxes are regressive - those of us who have less tend to pay a greater percentage of our income in sales taxes than do those who are better off.
For example, suppose a family of three with $150,000 in annual income pays sales taxes on $3,000 a year for clothing, an occasional meal out, etc. - here in Duval County they would pay $210 in sales taxes a year.
Now suppose a similar family of three with $50,000 in annual income spends the same $3,000 a year on the same kinds of things - we all have the same basic needs, after all. That family would pay the same $210 in sales taxes, even though they have one-third the income!
It doesn't seem fair to me that a family with one-third the income should pay the same amount in taxes.
Perhaps more importantly, sales taxes are not a reliable funding mechanism. In fact, our reliance on sales taxes is one reason our state government faces major budget shortfalls this year. Those tourists who pay a large percentage of sales taxes don't come when they are struggling to make ends meet, or when we've been hit with a series of hurricanes and our attractions are in tatters. Similarly, those of us who live here spend as little as we can, and the first things we cut out of our budgets are exactly those things we would pay sales tax on - eating out, clothing we don't absolutely need, new automobiles.
So, why not cut a deal with the Seminole Tribe to allow gambling on their reservation in exchange for a cut of the proceeds?
Personally, I don't really care whether or not the Seminoles have a casino. However, that is a public policy question - Should we allow more gambling in the state? It should be debated honestly. I'm offended by the insinuation that allowing more gambling is the only way to pay for our children's education. My son's future is more important than that.
Education is recognized in the Florida Constitution as a priority. Our political leaders, who have sworn to uphold that Constitution, should treat it as one. That doesn't mean offering to let us vote to tax ourselves to pay for it. That doesn't mean using it to coerce lawmakers into going along with unrelated public policy decisions. That means finding a stable source of funding and designating it for education, even though that might upset some wealthy campaign contributors.
I believe it's called leadership.
Dave
