Governor Charlie Crist's signing of the state budget yesterday put the warps on one of the most difficult legislative sessions in Florida's more recent history.
The $66.5 billion dollar spending plan for the 2009-2010 fiscal year is lean.

State Representative Marti Coley has been back on her regular job at Chipola College for about three weeks now.
She says she is pleased with the legislature's budget work, despite the cuts.

"When you reduce a budget, it's not a budget that everyone is excited about. We would always love to give more money to education, we would love to give more money to healthcare."

Coley's spent more than two decades in the teaching field and education is of utmost importance.
"Yes, education is my passion. I feel like without a strong education, our economy will falter. The two work hand in hand."
Although she previously served as an adjunct professor at Chipola College, Coley has received criticism for her affiliation with the school.
More so since the the controversy surrounding former House Speaker Ray Sansom and his dealings with Northwest Florida State College.
Sansom and former college president Dr. Bob Richbourgh have both been indicted for questionable appropriations for the college, and Sansom's six-figure job at Northwest Florida State, which he announced the same day he was sworn-in as House Speaker.
The controversy has placed community college special project funding under a microscope.

But Coley says her position with Chipola does not impact the way colleges are funded.
"Do I advocate for Chipola? Yes I do, because it's part of my district. Do I advocate for Gulf Coast? It doesn't technically sit in my district but it sits in Bay county which is a county that I represent."
Since community colleges are the only opportunity for some people to receive a 2-or-4-year degree, Coley feels it's her responsibility to help where she can.

"It would be irresponsible not to advocate for these institutions because they are a driving force of the economy in this region."
And the future for Chipola looks bright.
Enrollment in the college's 4-year Bachelor of Science degree programs is up 110% over the last year.
And the number of students seeking Associate in Arts degrees is up almost 8.5%.