State sexual assault funding update

The State budget
On Wednesday, May 27, Governor Charlie Crist signed Florida's $66.5 billion budget into law. Lawmakers faced an unprecedented budget deficit with record job losses and home foreclosures. The budget includes $2.2 billion in new fees and taxes. Much of the new revenue comes from a $1-a-pack cigarette tax, higher fees on driving licenses and motor vehicle tags and tuition increases. Some court fees are also being increased. Cuts were mitigated as a result of the state making use of much, though not all, of revenues available through the federal economic stimulus package. Cuts include FDLE investigator positions, guardian ad litem positions, aftercare services in the juvenile justice system and elder care services.

Rape Crisis Centers Fare Better than Expected
State funding for rape crisis services fared better than expected with all Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund (RCPTF) dollars continuing to fund rape crisis services at approximately $2 million in the fiscal year 2009/2010 budget. Rape crisis centers also received $250,000 in non-recurring general revenue in the Attorney General's budget. This is a $150,000 cut from the previous year funding level but more than was expected based on the budget deficit and closure of the community budget request process.