Ballot Title:

Continue additional one mill ad valorem tax for district and charter school security expenses.

Ballot Summary:

Shall an additional one (1) mill of ad valorem millage tax, proportionately shared between charter and non-charter Clay District Public Schools based upon each charter school’s proportionate share of the District’s total unweighted full-time equivalent student enrollment, be approved to fund safety and security for District public school students and staff, and to provide operating expenses to the District, beginning July 1, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2027? Instructions to voters:

_______ Yes, for the one (1) mill of ad valorem tax millage

_______ No, against the one (1) mill of ad valorem tax millage

The continuation of the one mill will be four years and will end on June 30, 2027.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value, minus the $25,000 homestead exemption. For example, a home with a value of $250,000 with a $25,000 homestead exemption will pay $225 a year, or about $18.75 a month.

The continuing one mill funds will be spent on safety and security for the district public school students and staff, a proportionate share to charter schools, and for other operating expenses. The estimated breakdown is below:

• 82% Safety and security

• 12% Charter Schools

• 6% Other Operating Expenses

The money from the half-cent sales tax cannot be used for operating dollars, such as salaries to pay for School Resource Officers and school guardians. The half-cent sales tax is used to revitalize existing schools, relieve overcrowding, build new schools, and properly maintain facilities over the long run.

The lottery is less than 1% of the budget and the state dictates that it goes to Bright Futures Scholarships and higher education. Lottery money cannot be used for safety and security purposes.

By law, all Florida schools are required to have either an armed school resource officer (SRO) or an armed guardian on school campuses from bell to bell every day school is in session. If the one mill is not renewed, the annual personnel costs associated with providing SROs in every school to meet the state mandate will then be absorbed by the general fund, which would reduce or eliminate the current programs made available in Clay County.

The fund balance is there for emergencies and is placed in interest-bearing accounts. It is not used for recurring expenses because that would eventually deplete the state-mandated requirement for reserves.

All of the district’s financial data and audits are fully available to the public on its Business Affairs Webpage under the Financial Transparency link.

Public education impacts everyone. There is a direct correlation between quality schools and economic growth, increased property values, and quality of life in a community. Safe schools equal a safer community for everyone in Clay County. Investing in the next generation is a time-honored American tradition and a community-wide responsibility.

Yes. In fact, Sarasota, St. Johns, Orange, Duval, Manatee, Martin, Pinellas, Miami-Dade, Charlotte, Hernando, Marion, Lake, Palm Beach, and others have passed similar measures.