Budgets are more than numbers. They reflect priorities and values. Florida lawmakers ended the 2017 legislative session by approving an $82.4 billion budget for the coming year. If approved by the governor, this budget will cut $30 million from the Florida College System while simultaneously increasing funding to state universities by $232 million.

What has been lost in the media coverage of this year’s legislative session is that the 28 colleges had requested 100 million new dollars this year to strengthen 2+2 articulation with universities, enhance student advising, improve mental health services, increase safety on campus and boost our efforts to address workforce needs in our communities. What came out is a lopsided set of priorities and values. It’s a devastating blow to college budgets that is both unnecessary and bad for Florida.

Community colleges are the state’s “go-to” institutions for workforce training and job initiatives. Our graduates tend to stay local, and we offer program mixes that align with regional employer demand. When a company looks to expand or relocate to a certain area, they need to be able to see there is a viable workforce on hand. Real estate deals and tax incentives will not keep companies in Florida if there is not sufficient available talent.

Let me be clear, I fully support investing in our universities. But in a year of fiscal surplus, starving the College System makes no sense. Community colleges in Florida enroll around 800,000 students annually while universities enroll 350,000, yet the colleges receive less than a quarter of the state’s higher-education dollars. Sixty-five percent of college-bound high school students begin their journey to a state university at a state college, and 51% of university juniors and seniors are our graduates.

We have held the line on tuition to keep college affordable for years in spite of little additional state funding to enhance our service to students. We have demonstrated academic and economic value in transferring well-prepared students and getting them employed upon graduation. We have disproportionately educated minority and disadvantaged students. And we have helped veterans reenter civilian life with education and skills.

Our policy makers need to recognize that our education system is interdependent and funding for K-12, colleges and universities must be comprehensive. Only when funding is linked can we all fully thrive.

I want to encourage any and all who believe in the value of the Florida College System to e-mail Governor Scott today at Rick.Scott@eog.myflorida.com and share with him in your own words how these budget cuts will impact your individual college.