Broward teachers and other school-based employees would get the vast majority of referendum money if voters agree in November to renew a property tax.<\/p>\n
The School Board spent more than five hours debating and listening to a packed house of speakers before finally agreeing Tuesday to allocate 90% of possible revenues from a proposed referendum for employee pay. The other 10% would be used for safety and security and mental health expenses.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unclear how large of a supplement that would be for each employee. The School Board plans to negotiate the exact amounts with unions and other employee groups after the Nov. 3 election. For the last referendum, passed in 2022, teachers got supplements ranging from $500 to $12,000.<\/p>\n
The tax, and all the revenues, will expire if voters don\u2019t renew it in November. Property owners pay $100 per $100,000 in assessed property, and the district is not seeking an increase to the tax rate, although the revenues are expected to go up due to increased property values.<\/p>\n
When voters approved the 2022 referendum, the allocations were 75% for employee bonuses and 25% for safety and security and mental health. Superintendent Howard Hepburn had recommended using 80% of the money for employee pay boosts.<\/p>\n
But the School Board raised that to 90% after hearing requests from all district employee groups, who asked for 90%, as well as numerous teachers and other district employees, who argued they were having a hard time surviving on their current salaries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community must hear and see that this School Board believes in the future of Broward County Public Schools. We, the employee groups, stand united in that belief,\u201d stated a letter to the board signed by leaders of all five employee groups who represent Broward school employees. \u201cWe know that voters and taxpayers support our teachers, our schools, and every employee who contributes to student success.\u201d<\/p>\n
High school teacher Tracy Chandler told the board,\u00a0\u201cThe teachers who make daily sacrifices out of love for their students have to resort to begging the public to sacrifice a couple of hundred dollars a year so that teachers can simply afford to stay afloat. We\u2019re begging for a life raft.\u201d\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Teachers told board members they can expect a mass exodus if they don\u2019t get better pay.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease do the right thing this time and make sure that teachers and staff at schools that can barely afford to live in this district have enough money simply to pay our bills,\u201d Carolyn Flanagan told the board.<\/p>\n
Some teachers and other public speakers also voiced concern that voters might not approve the referendum due to a lack of trust in the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know voters are disillusioned with Broward County schools,\u201d Chandler told the board. \u201cThey no longer trust you with their tax dollars. We know this because we feel the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said teachers lost faith in the district about 15 years ago during the recession, when the school district removed guaranteed step raises based on tenure.<\/p>\n
Some board members also raised concerns that the referendum may not pass.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m nervous for the same reason we need the referendum, which is people are feeling the pinch,\u201d Board member Allen Zeman said. \u201cGas prices are up. There\u2019s this skirmish going on in the Middle East. And there\u2019s also a decline in confidence in government. And so there is a potential even for Broward County to vote down the referendum.\u201d\u2018<\/p>\n
Board member Adam Cervera voiced his concern about the public reaction to a decision made by the district to give most of the highest-paid employees referendum bonuses<\/a> that equaled as much as $14,000.<\/p>\n