School Board Approves Resolution Calling for Referendum on Levy of Ad-Valorem Taxes to Support Essential Operating Expenses

Today, May 8, 2018, the School Board of Broward County, Florida, approved School Board Resolution 18-107, calling for a levy of ad-valorem taxes for essential operating expenses. The levy would be used to enhance funding for school resource officers, including individual charter schools with more than 900 students; hire District school security staff; increase compensation to recruit and retain highly-qualified District teachers; and fund other essential instruction-related expenses preserving important programs in District schools.

The Florida Legislature continues to fund education at one of the lowest levels in the nation. For the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2018, the legislature has provided an increase in the Base Student Allocation in the amount of 47 cents per student. In fact, the total new funding for Broward County Public Schools, including funding that must be used as directed by the state, is $52 per student. This is the lowest funding increase of all 67 counties across the state of Florida. In addition, the state funding for more School Resource Officers (SROs) to comply with SB 7026 falls significantly short of the funding required to provide a minimum of one SRO per school.

As the next step in the process, the School Board is asking the Broward County Board of County Commissioners to approve the date for the referendum, and to direct the Broward County Supervisor of Elections to place the referendum on the August 28, 2018, Broward County election ballot, pursuant to the provisions of the election laws of the state of Florida.

Attached is a copy of the School Board Resolution Calling for a Referendum on the Levy of Ad- Valorem Taxes to Support Essential Operating Expenses.

The District will continue to provide updates and information regarding the Referendum.

To watch today’s School Board discussion regarding the Resolution Calling for a Referendum on a Levy of Ad-Valorem Taxes to Support Essential Operating Expenses, click here, or copy and paste the following link into your web browser: https://eduvision.tv/l?emymmR.

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ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.” Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth largest school district in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has over 271,500 students and approximately 175,000 adult students in 234 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 93 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 204 different countries and 191 different languages. To learn more, visit browardschools.com. Follow BCPS fon Twitter @browardschools and Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools, and download the free BCPS mobile app.

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