By Regan McCarthy
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-988650.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The state's economists say in a round-about way, environmental practices could be decreasing the amount of money schools have to spend on construction projects. Regan McCarthy reports PECO funds could be hurt by people saving on electricity.
Florida's Chief economist Amy Baker says forecasters are predicting schools will have less money for construction this year than they'd originally expected and they've zeroed out the dollars they'll be able to get from bonds. Baker says the decrease comes from a down tick in the economy, but she says it also stems from a dip in the collection of gross receipts, which depends on things like electricity use.
We think longer term especially on electricity that the amount of different kinds of appliances and things that are available to make green homes are starting to have an effect too. We're starting to see a decline because people are more efficient.
Baker says the recession the state is just coming out of is also influencing the forecast.