Budget to include stimulus aid for schools, on faith

State lawmakers might have to pass a budget this year without knowing whether they will receive nearly $900 million in federal money for schools.

Lawmakers learned Thursday that it might be two weeks before the scheduled end of the legislative session on May 1 before they can apply for the federal stimulus money, giving budget writers another obstacle as they try to scrape together an estimated $18 billion for next school year.

Congress has agreed to withhold money from states that cut school budgets, leaving Florida and several other states in limbo.

Gov. Charlie Crist acknowledged that he was "anxious" for the issue to be settled but said lawmakers, who have included $865 million in stimulus money for next year's school budget, could approve a spending plan with the hope that the money would eventually arrive.

"I think that they can," Crist said. "I think they can plan to be optimistic and incorporate those funds for education.

"Every indicator we've gotten so far seems to be in line with the fact that we probably will get it. I'm just anxious for that to actually happen."

Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, said his chamber would vote on the budget in anticipation of the federal money.

"And then if we have to make any adjustments those last 24 hours, it would be awfully difficult," Atwater said.

The final month will likely be dominated by negotiations over the budget, which has dropped by 10 percent since lawmakers approved spending $72 billion in 2007.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education released an application for all 50 states to apply for education money in the stimulus package approved by Congress on Feb. 8. But Florida also must apply for a waiver from the stipulation that withholds school money.

The Department of Education released the waiver application, but not a "guidance document" that explains the paperwork.

The waiver shows that Florida will have to prove that the percentage of the state budget spent on K-12 schools - instead of the actual dollar amount - has not dropped in recent years. State officials believe they can meet that requirement.

"We're wanting to make sure we've got that guidance well understood to make sure that we do everything properly and don't end up slowing our chances down," said Crist's stimulus czar, Don Winstead.

There have been plenty of signs that Florida will eventually receive the education money.

Politically, White House officials have indicated they will help the state after Crist became one of the few national Republican figures to support President Obama's stimulus plan.

"Let's just say we want to help," Education Secretary Arne Duncan told reporters in Miami in March.

Officials in the state House and Senate say that because no real money is needed until July 1, the start of the state's fiscal year, lawmakers could approve a budget and leave the state capital without an ironclad approval from the feds.

But if the waiver application were denied in that scenario, lawmakers probably would have to return to Tallahassee for a special session.

"It looks good with what we've got so far," Winstead said. "But we're just waiting for that last finality."