TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – In Leon and Gadsden counties, voters will decide Tuesday on the extension of a half-cent sales tax that funds school repairs and renovations.
Gadsden County Schools Superintendent Elijah Key Jr. said that if voters approve the sales tax increase, the new revenue will go directly toward school building repairs, technology upgrades and facility improvements.
The increase would last 15 years.
Key said the district expects the sales tax to raise over $2 million a year.
He said the money is limited ot building needs, like maintenance, renovations, safety, technology and buses.
Key said tight budgets have forced hard choices.
“Do we fix this over here or do we go over and fix this school? And so, those kinds of things, because we’re shorthanded when it comes to finances, we’ve had to decide what was a priority,” Key said.
Key said one school has a major heating and cooling problem.
If the tax fails, he said the district would likely have to borrow money for repairs.
The ballot said charter schools would share the money.
The tax has been in place in Leon County since 2002, and Superintendent Rocky Hanna said it brings in about $30 million a year.
That money has gone toward renovating schools all across the district. Many of those schools have signs outside saying how much of your tax dollars have gone towards those projects.
The ballot measure asks voters to continue the half-cent tax for 15 years.
Hanna said more school renovations are needed soon.
“The average age of our buildings, of our schools, is between 45 and 50 years old,” Hanna said. “And although we don’t see any new schools on the immediate horizon, our existing schools need some upgrades and some updates.”
Hanna said the money has also paid for school buses and technology.
He said the tax covers about 45% of the district’s capital outlay money and estimates 30-35% comes from people who live outside Leon County.
The ballot said eligible charter schools would share the money.
Voters renewed the tax with 67% approval in 2012.
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