On Aug. 23, the Monroe County School District will be issuing a referendum to the voters seeking authorization for the district to continue its reduced millage for capital projects, making a proportional amount available for operating expenses. While this referendum has historically been issued to residents as two separate votes, new legislation from the State of Florida requires that the District issue them together this year.
Some points to consider when voting on the referendum:
- Approval of this referendum has and will continue to represent NO tax millage rate increase to property owners.
- Since 2004, the voters of Monroe County have approved renewal of ‘Flexible-Funding,’ which results in no tax increase to residents. The Monroe County School District reduces non-voted capital millage by an amount equivalent to the operational millage approved by the voters.
- Flexible Funding provides for competitive teacher salaries which allows the district to hire and retain great teachers. It also allows the district to fund other critical positions necessary to provide the best educational opportunity for our children.
- In addition to Flexible Funding, this referendum also includes renewal of 0.0625 mills for the hiring of safe-schools officers required by Florida law since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in 2018.
- Approval of this referendum will allow the school district to continue to provide a high quality education and a safe learning environment to the students of Monroe County.
- If you vote to approve this referendum in August, these funds will not expire until December 31, 2026.
- If this does not pass, the district would lose $24 million that equates to approximately 220 positions.
