Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Sen. Don Gaetz defended a proposal that shifts how after-school and mentoring programs are funded, saying the proposal increases total funding for these programs.
“There is nothing in this budget that cuts one penny out of any of these programs,” said Gaetz, chair of the education appropriations subcommittee, during the Senate Appropriations meeting Wednesday.
“Instead, we’re actually increasing it. Based on our recommendation for aftercare and mentoring programs by $10 million. I thought that only in Washington was a 50 percent increase viewed as a cut, but apparently it is in some quarters of Tallahassee. It is simply not true.”
As first reported by Florida Politics, the Senate Education Appropriations subcommittee has proposed changing the way after-school and mentoring programs. Instead of allocating dollars to individual providers, it creates a $30 million competitive grants program where organizations will apply.
Under the plan, money would be awarded by a committee of members appointed by Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Andy Gardiner, and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, and could include Education Commissioner Pam Stewart and other top officials.
The proposal received some pushback from Sen. Arthenia Joyner on Wednesday, who said questioned why the state would create a grants program.
“I want to know why do we need to create another mechanism for funding for mentoring,” said Joyner.
Gaetz said the grants system would allow “aftercare and mentoring programs would be judged on their merits.” He said the system would be similar to one already in place for arts funding.
“What the subcommittee is recommending is, instead of funding for after-school and mentoring programs being dependent solely on who lobbies for them, move toward a more objective analysis if you will, or a return on investment analysis, as we do in the arts,” he said.
Joyner also expressed concern that the committee tasked with looking at requests did not appear to include any Democrats. She also worried that established organizations might lose out under the proposal.
“My concern is even though there are many organizations that provide these services and seek funds, we do have some tried, tested and proven organizations who have, in fact, made a significant difference in my community,” she said. “I’m concerned about the possibility of them not being able to continue the good work that they do in my community, in Tampa, St. Pete and Bradenton.”
On Wednesday representatives from several after-school and mentoring programs — including Big Brothers Big Sisters; Best Buddies and Boys & Girls Clubs from across the state — spoke out in opposition to the change.
The House spending plan keeps a method of direct funding to individual groups.
