The following are summaries of governors’ budget requests for precollegiate education and highlights of proposals that rank high on the states’ education agendas. Final legislative action on state budgets will be reported in the months ahead.
FLORIDA
Governor:
Robert Martinez (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$21.9 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$5.2 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$4.8 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+8 percent
Governor proposes earmarking more than half of projected $745 million in lottery revenue for schools. Districts would get $133 million with no strings attached; teachers would receive 5 percent pay hike. Remainder would support projects in the areas of at-risk children, preschool education, middle schools, school construction, and initial planning for state residential high school for mathematics and science.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Governor:
Judd Gregg (R)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$1.2 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$75 million
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$81 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
-7 percent
Governor proposes cut in general-fund expenditures for schools to reduce budget without raising taxes.
Also seeks “modified magnet schools” to allow top students to take after-school accelerated courses and earn credit toward scholarships; curbs on special-education costs.
Legislature to consider proposals for mandatory kindergarten, enhanced dropout-prevention efforts.
WEST VIRGINIA
Governor:
Gaston Caperton (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$1.7 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$782 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$727 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+8 percent
Governor proposes constitutional amendment to reconstitute state board of education, make it subject to legislative oversight, allow governor to select state school chief.
Also recommends 5 percent pay increase for teachers; $500-million school-construction program; measures to shore up troubled teacher-retirement and medical-insurance systems; efforts for enhancement of remedial education.
