, however, the states either have reduced funding levels or have linked funding to specified performance outcomes. In either scenario, the pressures increase on both local level funding sources (where permitted by state law) and financial managers in public school districts and authorities (Rand Organization, 2000).
The classification of revenue generation sources for school districts includes (1) revenue limit sources, which are associated with funding equalization, and (2) other governmental sources of revenue from the various levels of government. Categorical educational programs provide state-level funding to public schools. This funding supports the acquisition of specific types of local services including transportation, subsidized meals, and supplemental instruction (Alexander & Salmon, 1995).
In the State of Florida, each public school district confronted a mandatory funding reduction of 2.46 percent for the 2002-2003 fiscal year beginning in April 2002 when the state legislature reduced spending on public education in December 2001. For Miami Dade County Public Schools, the 2.46-percent reduction translated into $48.2 million dollars for the 2002-2003 fiscal year funding (Leitsinger, 2002).
The budget for the 2001-2002 fiscal year for Miami Dade County Public Schools was $2,468.3 million. The budget funded public education for 368,393 students in 411 public schools in the 2001-2002 fiscal year. The budget included finding from federal, state, and local sources. Table 1 (on the following page) summarizes the funding
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