Collier County voters will encounter a significant school board referendum at the end of their November ballot, which aims to allow the district to reallocate funds between two accounts without raising taxes.
Chad Oliver, spokesman for Collier County Public Schools, explained. "Florida law prohibits any school from just shifting money around. You need accountability. You need transparency."
Voters are being asked to grant school board members the authority to transfer move from one pot of money to another. if passed, the school district would reduce up to .35 mill in capital taxes and increase up to .35 mill in operating taxes.
"You can’t move money from the capital fund into the operating fund without voter approval. That’s why this is on the ballot," Oliver said.
Senior Director of Strategic Engagement Lisa Morse, said, "What’s different about this one is that Collier County schools are in a position to do this with a tax-neutral approach, with no new taxes."
The referendum, previously approved by voters, is set to expire at the end of the school year.
"Essentially, the voters are deciding whether to give their locally elected officials the flexibility to best use the funds as the school board sees fit," Oliver added.
If the referendum fails, the school board will face tough choices.
The revenue or the cuts have to come from somewhere. Oliver said, "If this fails, the school board would have to make very difficult decisions about where to cut or where to increase revenue."
The district emphasized that the referendum will not raise taxes and that Collier County schools are on track to be debt-free next year.