Feed Me Florida

I noted that the economic report would bad news for Florida's budget. Charlie Crist will receive the report on Wednesday. The forecast is Florida having the worst budget shortfall since the 9-11 attacks.

sales taxes are $746.1 million less than predicted. Corporate-income-taxes are $236.2 million below expections. The legislature is planning on making $1.1 billion in cuts. The $147.5 million for the Merit Award Program is used to award teachers raises. That money may be entirely diverted for other school needs.

Things may not get better anytime soon.

Amy Baker, an economist for the Legislature, said it's difficult to peg precisely when the state will see a rebound.

"There won't be a day, there won't be a `Eureka' moment, but more of a period of time," she said. "This will be a fairly long adjustment."

That means things are going to be ugly until the Governor fixes the hurricane insurance and property tax mess. Taxes from real estate sles are down $132.6 million. That also plays into other taxes related from growth. Florida is like the plant from Little Shop of Horrors. It needs to be fed more growth in order to fund the budget. Increased growth creates more budget needs.