TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – May 29, 2007 – House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber’s suggestion that the $459 million in spending Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed from the state budget be used to cut property taxes is unsound, House Speaker Marco Rubio has now said.

“Unfortunately, following your suggestion of using the money saved by the Governor’s vetoes would violate not just a principle of responsible budgeting but also the wishes of the people of Florida as reflected in our state’s constitution,” Rubio, R-West Miami, wrote in a letter dated Friday.

“Given sound budgeting principles and constitutional budget restraints, I encourage you to consider other recurring expenses as an opportunity to reduce property taxes,” Rubio wrote.

Crist on Thursday signed into law a $71.5 billion state budget after vetoing a variety of spending items ranging from local cultural and recreation projects to a 5 percent tuition increase for university and community college students.

The signed budget, though, includes a $545 million increase in the state’s required local property tax for public schools although lawmakers will meet in special session June 12-22 to cut city and county property taxes.

In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Gelber also suggested the Legislature in the special session should reduce the state-required school tax in an amount at least equal to the vetoed spending.

Rubio wrote that he would “invite discussion of a modification of the class size amendment” to lower the cost associated with smaller classes as one solution to help reduce property taxes.

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