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School boards across the state will consider raising property taxes to fund education.

State lawmakers voted for a budget that left schools shorthanded. To make up the funding shortage, the legislature permitted school boards to levy a small millage increase. Florida Education Association Spokesman Mark Pudlow said the legislature has passed the buck.

�This continues a strategy the legislature has had for sometime, and that is to shift more burden to local school districts. So property taxes go up and the legislature says �it�s not our fault,� but it is,� said Pudlow.

Governor Charlie Crist was asked about the proposed property tax increases.

��Is the state passing the buck on the property tax issue?� �No we are trying to reduce property taxes and I think that is exactly what the people want and I would encourage local governments to do the same thing. Honor the will of the people,� said Crist.

Lawmakers gave school boards the authority to raise property taxes by about 25 dollars on every 100-thousand dollars of a home�s value.