The city of Cape Coral soon will receive a share of a local option sales tax for school infrastructure for its municipal charter system.<\/p>\n
Cape Coral City Council approved a resolution last Wednesday that will provide for, as of January, a distribution of a proportionate share of the 2018 Capital Outlay half cent sales surtax from the\u00a0 School District of Lee County for the Oasis Charter School System.<\/p>\n
The city will waive its right to any potential litigation related to funds not received to date.<\/p>\n
City Councilmember Bill Steinke was the lone dissenting vote.<\/p>\n
School District of Lee County Superintendent Jacquelin Collins brought the sharing of the half-cent surtax before the city\u2019s Charter School Authority Governing Board meeting Tuesday evening. She said the district will share its half cent surtax with the charter school starting in January 2026.<\/p>\n
Collins explained that the funds will be subject to review and the surtax oversight committee will monitor and report on the surtax revenues.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s advisory only. Expenditures do not have to be approved by the committee,\u201d she said. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The \u201camendment specifies that surtax funds must be used solely for the acquisition, construction, renovation, equipping, and financing of school facilities, safety, and technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to agenda documents, \u201cstarting in January 2026, the school board shall provide the charter school with its proportionate share of Capital Outlay Surtax Referendum funds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assistant City Manager Mark Mason said there were no statutory requirements to include charter schools within the half cent sales tax in 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2021, we, the city, started to look at this \u2013 why aren\u2019t we,\u201d he said. \u201cWe sent them a letter and it\u2019s always been on the back of our minds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mason said Oasis Charter Schools are public schools with the public school system and they are a part of the Lee County School District.<\/p>\n
In 2020, he said Florida legislature changed the law stating the half cent sales tax would have to be shared with charter schools.<\/p>\n
Chair Kristifer Jackson said they will be paid going forward until 2028 when the referendum comes back up to the voters.<\/p>\n
Collins said she already has plans in which they could use the half cent sales tax \u2013 expenditures they need to invest in the coming year.<\/p>\n
She said she would like to reopen the conversation about OPENGATE, the metal detection system.<\/p>\n
In addition, Collins wants to look into the holistic film on windows and doors for all schools, a $25,000 bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been talking about this for quite a while,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The culinary remodel is another project, as they have only earmarked $500,000 for the project.<\/p>\n
Another program Collins is collecting information on is the BusPatrol cameras that are attached to the sides of school buses to detect which cars are going through the stop signs when red lights are flashing. She said that would be a great program for them as they have 26 buses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are things we need to keep in mind. It is early. After the first of year (we need to discuss) how we are going to invest in things I feel are important,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n