Sales tax hike for education?

"The idea of a sales tax increase to support education appears be gaining steam in the Legislature. On the same day that two Democrats and the state’s largest teachers’ union held a news conference touting a temporary one-cent increase in the tax, Gov. Charlie Crist said he wouldn’t rule out the proposal."

"The plans being discussed would bump the statewide sales tax from 6 cents on the dollar to 7 cents, with any local taxes tacked on to that. The proposal floated by the Florida Education Association, a 140,000-member union, would expire after three years."

Interesting chart from the article:

1 cent

The amount of the proposed sales tax increase

$2.42

The amount the Florida Education Association says it would cost a family of four each week.

$3 billion

The amount the increase is expected to raise annually for public education and colleges and universities.

$31.2 billion

Gov. Charlie Crist's proposed education budget for the coming fiscal year.