HB 7123 - Taxation District Stance

The School District of Palm Beach County opposes provisions in HB 7123 that would invalidate county tax referendum language approved by more than 72% of voters to explicitly exclude non-charter District schools from receiving voter-approved funds.

Why is HB 7123 an issue for Palm Beach County?  HB 7123 includes language that would require voter-approved referendum funding to be shared retroactively with charter schools beginning with the upcoming school year.  It disregards the SDPBC November 2018 ballot initiative that indicated referendum funds would be for traditional District schools only. Voters agreed to raise their taxes in support of traditional public schools, not charter schools.  Charter schools already receive a proportionate share of funding from the state, including dollars allocated from the Department of Safe Schools and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.

What is at stake for students, teachers, and schools if HB 7123 passes as written?  The District will be forced to cut more than $22 million from the 2019-2020 school year budget.  Initiatives related to enhancing school safety and mental health services for students, improving teacher pay, and maintaining arts programming will be jeopardized.  Potentially overrides the will of Palm Beach County voters, who overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure with explicit language to use their tax dollars for non-charter District schools.  See below for the exact ballot language approved by voters.

Palm Beach County School District – November 2018 Referendum

Shall the School Board of Palm Beach County have authority to levy 1.00 mills of ad valorem millage dedicated for operational needs of non-charter District schools to fund school safety equipment, hire additional school police and mental health professionals, fund arts, music, physical education, career and choice program teachers, and improve teacher pay beginning July 1, 2019 and automatically ending June 30, 2023, with oversight by the independent committee of citizens and experts?

What can the Palm Beach County community do to help?  Contact legislators today and tell them: o Do not override the will of the voters, especially in counties such as Palm Beach, where ballot language explicitly stated tax dollars were to be used for non-charter District schools. o Legislation related to sharing voter-approved referendum funds with charter schools should NOT be retroactive.

HB 7123 - Taxation District Stance

Helpful talking points for calls or emails to legislators listed below:

By phone

I am a resident of Palm Beach County and I strongly oppose HB 7123, or any measure that seeks to override the will of voters.

Palm Beach County residents overwhelmingly supported (72.37% yes vote) a ballot initiative to pay additional taxes to support only non-charter District schools.

Please support amending HB 7123 so that Palm Beach County gets what it voted for.

By email

Email subject line: HB 7123 – Don’t Override Voters!

Dear [INSERT LEGISLATOR NAME],

I am a resident of Palm Beach County and I strongly oppose HB 7123, or any measure that seeks to override the will of voters.

Palm Beach County residents overwhelmingly supported (72.37% yes vote) a ballot initiative to pay additional taxes to support only non-charter District schools.

Please support amending HB 7123 so that Palm Beach County gets what it voted for.

Sincerely,

[INSERT YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME]

HB 7123 - Taxation District Stance

Contact information for key legislators:

Legislator Email Phone Representative Tallahassee: 850/717-5111 (R – Hialeah) [email protected] District Office: 305/805-5127 Sponsor of HB 7123

Representative Tina Polsky Tallahassee: 850/717-5081 (D – District 81) [email protected] District Office: 561/470-2086 PBC Local Delegation

Representative Tallahassee: 850/717-5086 (D – District 86) [email protected] District Office: 561/791-4071 PBC Local Delegation, Chair

Representative Mike Caruso Tallahassee: 850/717-5089 (R - District 89) [email protected] District Office: 561/750-2396 PBC Local Delegation

Representative MaryLynn Magar (R – District 82) Tallahassee: 850/717-5082 [email protected] PBC Local Delegation and House District Office: 772/545-3481 Speaker Pro Tempore

Representative Tallahassee: 850/717-5087 (D – District 87) [email protected] District Office: 561/357-4824 PBC Local Delegation

Representative Tallahassee: 850/717-5090 (D – District 90) [email protected] District Office: 561/292-6015 PBC Local Delegation

Representative Tallahassee: 850/717-5085 (R – District 85) [email protected] District Office: 561/625-5176 PBC Local Delegation, Vice Chair

Representative Al Jacquet Tallahassee: 850/717-5088 (D – District 88) [email protected] District Office: 561/650-6846 PBC Local Delegation

Representative Tallahassee: 850/717-5091 (D – District 91) [email protected] District Office: 561/496-5940 PBC Local Delegation

HB 7123 - Taxation District Stance

Legislator Email Phone Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) Tallahassee: 850/487-5023 Sponsor of SB 1112, which currently [email protected] District Office: 941/378-6309 does NOT include any language about overriding voter-approved referenda.

Senator Gayle Harrell Tallahassee: 850/487-5025 (R – District 25) [email protected] District Office: 772/221-4019 PBC Local Delegation

Senator Bobby Powell, Jr. Tallahassee: 850/487-5030 (D – District 30) [email protected] District Office: 561/650-6880 PBC Local Delegation

Senator Kevin Rader Tallahassee: 850/487-5029 (D – District 29) [email protected] District Office: 561/443-8170 PBC Local Delegation

Senator Lori Berman Tallahassee: 850/487-5031 (D – District 31) [email protected] District Office: 561/292-6014 PBC Local Delegation