A new report from the Florida Policy Institute (FPI) takes aim at the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship. The report, “Silent Spending, Florida’s Shadow Budget Needs More Scrutiny,” improves tax equity by eliminating up to $23 billion in tax credits, deductions, and exemptions, thereby boosting government revenues. I would like to increase it.

Tax credits covered by FPIs include the Florida Tax Credit (FTC). The FTC provided scholarships to 86,726 low- and middle-income students last year, 73% of whom are nonwhite.

“The question remains whether revenues that would otherwise be used for general public purposes should be used for private school education,” the report’s authors wrote.

Aside from the fact that the issue is largely settled: Opponents of scholarships have lost court cases three times in the last decade, scholarships have been in law for 21 years, and millions of We offer more scholarships. , most of whom are children of color.

Contrary to FPI’s claims, the FTC serves the “general public purpose” of educating students. The benefit to the general public (the educated masses) remains the same whether that education is provided in private or public schools.

What’s more, while the FTC’s repeal raises government revenues, it also means the state will lose twice as much as it gains. The average scholarship this year is about $7,700, but Florida school districts are spending more than double her per student from all sources.