Home  News Local News College tuition, speeding tickets to cost more
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College tuition, speeding tickets to cost more |
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Saturday, 05 July 2008 |
As if inflation rates are not enough of a strain on the Florida residents, parents and students will now be saddled with higher community college and university tuition fees, as part of a number of laws that came into effect on Tuesday.
In fact, high gas prices will not be the only reason Floridians are slowing down this summer, since motorists will also be paying more for speeding fines. But while people can avoid these speeding tickets, parents or college students will have to now find new ways to foot the already unaffordable tuition bills for their college education.
Under the state budget statute, there will also be increases in the cost of divorces and a reduction in government spending – which once again will target the public school system, which seems to always be on the cutting table when it’s time to tighten the economic belt.
Set at $66 billion, the state budget will require a six percent tuition increase for tertiary level students and price increases in over 140 court-related items. Speeding fines will see a minimum of $17.50 increase and a divorce will cost an extra $45.
In an attempt to boost the economy, another new law will require the state to invest a maximum of 1.5 percent of its $137 billion employee pension plan in its technologically advanced industries such as aerospace, biosciences and renewable energy technology.
With the increase in environmental consciousness, Florida power companies will now have limits on greenhouse gases, which will put into effect some of Gov. Charlie Crist’s energy and climate policies.
Crist, who signed the law at a climate change summit recently said, "This legislation protects our natural resources, stimulates our economy and reduces our dependence on foreign oil."
The law will require a number of changes including developing pollution limits for new vehicles sold in the state.
Also coming into effect is the controversial statute which allows employees and customers to take their guns to work and store it in their vehicles. The move continues to be opposed and two some businesses are taking up the matter in court.
Other enactments included an education law designed to reduce the dependence on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in evaluating high schools. Now, students and schools will be graded on other factors like graduation rates and participation in advanced classes. Elementary and middle schools, however, will continue to be graded only by FCAT scores.
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