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Opinion: Voting For Half-Cent Sales Tax For Schools Is Critical
November 1, 2024
submitted by Superintendent Keith Leonard, guest columnist
In 1997, the Escambia County School District implemented a visionary initiative—a half-cent sales tax aimed at revolutionizing the local education landscape. On November 5th, the half-cent sales tax will be on the ballot again. In 2014, 68% of the voters in Escambia County approved the renewal of this sales tax, and eight years prior, they passed it by more than 70%.
Over the years, this innovative funding source has become a cornerstone for the school district’s ambitious projects, providing crucial support for the construction of replacement schools such as AK Suter Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle, and Pleasant Grove Elementary, as well as new schools like Global Learning Academy, Kingsfield Elementary, and Beulah Middle.
These funds have also supported renovations and additions at existing facilities: West Florida High, OJ Semmes Elementary, Ferry Pass Middle, Pensacola High, and essential advancements in technology.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency to improve indoor air quality became one of the district’s top priorities, leading to extensive replacement of outdated HVAC systems, chillers, cooling towers, flooring, and windows. To maximize available federal funds, revenue from the half-cent sales tax was used for renovations alongside projects funded by the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER).
Currently on the drawing board are plans for new elementary schools in Beulah and Cantonment.
Wholesale Change Thanks to the Half-Cent Sales Tax
The half-cent sales tax has revolutionized the local education landscape and continues to change the playing field. Generating annual revenue in the range of seven to eight million dollars, Escambia County Public Schools has been able to grow to meet community demands.
Originally, this revenue was restricted to classroom-related expenditures. However, the scope expanded to include improvements for entire schools, allowing for diverse projects such as the installation of tracks, gymnasiums, and covered play areas for elementary schools.
One of the strategic moves made by Escambia County Public Schools was to address facility disparities. This commitment led to the construction of covered play areas in every elementary school, a gymnasium in each middle school, and other district-wide improvements. This approach aimed to provide uniform, high-quality facilities across the district, enhancing the overall learning environment.
Good Stewards of Your Tax Dollars
Escambia County Public Schools has undertaken a strategic planning approach to ensure that every dollar from the half-cent sales tax is maximized for the benefit of students. This includes forward-thinking initiatives, such as budgeting for renovations and allocating funds for elementary, middle, and high school improvements, to keep the district at the forefront of educational infrastructure.
The Half-Cent Sales Tax Watchdog Committee works collaboratively with the district, adding a layer of fiduciary management by the community. This committee has provided oversight of these expenditures since the inception of the half-cent sales tax, making this initiative the only K-12 sales tax to employ such collaboration and oversight.
Our innovative use of the half-cent sales tax is transforming education in the region. From facility improvements to adapting to technological advancements and external challenges, the district is committed to providing an environment conducive to learning for every student.
We ask for your continued support and vote to renew the half-cent sales tax. The impact of this funding strategy will resonate in Escambia County for years to come, enhancing the education and lives of our students as future employees, co-workers, and neighbors.
Keith Leonard is superintendent of Escambia County Public Schools.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School (top), Kingsfield Elementary School (top inset) and Beulah Middle School (lower inset), all of which were constructed with half-cent sales tax funds. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
13 Responses to “Opinion: Voting For Half-Cent Sales Tax For Schools Is Critical”
Over the past 25 years I have seen the blight in Escambia County increase dramatically and the quality of life diminish. The continuation of this shared revenue source will insure that our children and their schools are of a quality surpassing other school systems! I vote yes for the kids future! A shared income source is fair!
Vote yes. This is not a new tax. It is a renewal/continuation of a nearly 30 year old tax.
PSA for all the No voters. The school district is a taxing authority. So if this tax fails, the district will get the money elsewhere and that will be through an increase in your property taxes. Even if you don’t own a home, your rent will go up to cover it.
No to the .5 cent sales tax. Escambia county sales tax is 7.5%. Those .5 cent taxes keep adding up. Time to start backing them off.
Vote No. Like all government entities, they will spend all the take and more. The lottery was supposed to solve all the money problems.
I hear everyone say — no.. go get money from Florida lottery. Well folks the FL lottery money for education goes for students in Florida – all students, not just in Escambia county. It’s for bright futures scholarships. The half cent sales tax, that we have been paying since 1997, built new schools such as Global Learning Academy, AK Suter, Pleasant Grove, Helen Cato, and every elementary school revived an indoor play area. AG buildings at Tate, PHS and Escambia have gotten improvements. Having an updated building helps everyone.
Some schools got new carpet, new LVP. Updated buildings. This tax that we pay and tourist pay goes for those things. Please consider keeping the half cent sales tax. Vote Yes!
My family and I have voted YES for the 1/2 cent sales tax since it began and did the same this time.
We value Public Education and this is an easy way for ALL of us to support Good Things for OUR Future.
Many do not understand that LOTTO goes toward Bright Futures to help kids who may not otherwise be able to afford the basics of higher education.
1/2 Cent Sales Tax goes toward Schools Building new ones and expanding existing ones, School & Facilities Maintenance, Purchase of School Busses and Maintaining them fuel-oil included,
SO….We have and will Continue to vote YES for the 1/2 cent school tax where everyone who purchases taxable items helps pay.
I’d be glad to vote for this 1/2 cent tax, as long as at the same time we do away with the 1/2 cent tax to pay for ECAT. If we keep voting to add these 1/2 cent sales taxes, pretty soon there won’t be a 1/2 cent left for the tax payers to live on.
This half cent tax fills the gap left by the old PECO funds for school facilities that came through taxes on home phone lines. The Florida Lotto is for bright futures scholarships for college tuition. The renovations funded by the half cent sales tax reduce the utility costs of the schools with efficient lights, insulation, windows, and equipment made this century.
The big hype when we got the LOTTO was money money for schools. Go get money from them.
VOTE NO ON 1/2 CENT TAX
I could not agree more with this tax. It has been managed and spent very well over the years and helped this county improve its existing facilities and build new ones for our children and grandchildren to have positive learning environments. Another positive to this and that everyone that vacation’s here and passes thru helps to pay for these improvements. I fully support this tax and always vote yes for it.
OPINION: we’ve been bamboozled over and over by hearing the words FOR KIDS or FOR SCHOOLS. It started back in the day when the Florida Lottery profits were going to be used for THE SCHOOLS. Now, it’s mostly used for Bright Future scholarships for 18 year olds to go to college. That’s not helping the school systems. Then there’s the Kids First crap that hornswoggled its way into our pockets. Put the money already being given in the right places and stop begging for more. I say NO.
VOTE NO ON 1/2 CENT TAX