A RESOLUTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ORDERING AND PROVIDING FOR THE HOLDING OF A REFERENDUM ELECTION TO DETERMINE IF THE ELECTORS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CONTINUE THE ONE MILL FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL YEARS FOR ESSENTIAL OPERATING EXPENSES.
WHEREAS, economic circumstances in 2007-08 prompted the Florida Legislature to begin making significant budget reductions to the education funding formula; and,
WHEREAS, the state education budget reductions to funding over the last twelve (12) years have caused per student funding to lag behind 2007-08 levels when factoring inflationary costs; and,
WHEREAS, these inflation-adjusted funding reductions have resulted in reduced funding to address programs and compensation for our most critical employees who serve the needs of our children and schools; and,
WHEREAS, the Orange County School District has received a funding increase from the Florida Legislature for beginning teacher pay and to achieve the $15 per hour minimum wage requirement for our lowest paid staff, but has not received adequate funding to compensate experienced teachers and support staff; and,
WHEREAS, the Orange County School District relies on the total taxable property values to generate additional local funds for operating expenses; and,
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature sets the maximum millage rates for school districts; and,
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature decreased Required Local Effort (RLE) millage for seven (7) consecutive years and only over the past two (2) years has the Florida Legislature kept the millage rate level; and,
WHEREAS, the Orange County School District has experienced an increase of 37,745 students since the recession began in 2007-08; and
WHEREAS, Section 1011.71(9), Florida Statutes, authorizes a school district to levy, by local referendum or in a general election, additional millage for school operational purposes up to an amount that, when combined with the non-voted millage levied, does not exceed the 10-mill limit established under the Florida Constitution; and,
WHEREAS, the electors of Orange County approved a referendum in 2010 allowing for an increase in the ad valorem millage for operating purposes for four (4) years pursuant to Section 1011.73(2), Florida Statutes; and,
WHEREAS, electors of Orange County in 2014 and 2018 approved renewals of the ad valorem millage for operating purposes for four (4) additional years; and,
WHEREAS, the Orange County School District needs sufficient revenues to maintain and improve its high-quality schools; and,
WHEREAS, the additional ad valorem millage for operating purposes was able to help preserve academic programs, retain highly qualified teachers, and protect arts, athletics and student activities over the past twelve (12) years; and,
WHEREAS, Orange County School District will continue academic programs preserved by the additional one (1) mill as well as retain the teachers associated with those programs; and,
WHEREAS, the renewal of the one (1) mill ad valorem is not a new tax or a tax increase but a four (4) year extension of the current millage rate; and,
WHEREAS, a renewal of the additional ad valorem millage for operating purposes will generate approximately $818 million through the four (4) year period beginning in fiscal year 2023-24 and sunsetting in 2026-27; and,
WHEREAS, the School Board has determined that it is in the best interests of all the students of Orange County, including those attending charter schools, to submit to the voters the question of approving a continuation of the additional ad valorem millage of one (1) mill for four (4) years for essential operating expenses;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Orange County, Florida, in a public meeting duly called and assembled this 10th day of May, 2022, that the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, Florida, is hereby directed to call an election in conjunction with the primary election of August 23, 2022, at which the electors within the school district of Orange County may vote on approving the continuation of the additional ad valorem millage of one mill for four (4) years as authorized under Section 1011.73(2), Florida Statutes, and the substance of the measure and ballot title shall be as follows:
BALLOT TITLE:
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA
AD VALOREM MILLAGE ELECTION
BALLOT QUESTION: Shall the School Board of Orange County, Florida, continue the current one (1) mill ad valorem millage for essential operating expenses, including compensating teachers and support staff, preserving academic programs, arts, athletics, and student activities, beginning July 1, 2023, and ending four (4) fiscal years later on June 30, 2027, shared proportionately with charter schools as legally required, with annual reporting to ensure proper fiscal stewardship of these funds to the citizens of Orange County?
_____ YES FOR APPROVAL
_____ NO FOR REJECTION
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 26 day of April, 2022.
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