Item P07
Q/8
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
C ounty of M onroe
Mayor David Rice, District 4
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates, District 1
The Florida Keys
Michelle Coldiron, District 2
Vacant, District 3
Holly Merrill Raschein, District 5
County Commission Meeting
April 20, 2022
Agenda Item Number: P.7
Agenda Item Summary #10411
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: County Attorney's Office
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Bob Shillinger (305) 292-3470
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution requesting the Supervisor of Elections to
place a question before for the qualified electors of Monroe County at the August 23, 2022 primary
election to vote on the School Board's referendum questions regarding flexible funding and school
security per the School Board's direction and rescinding resolution 067-2022, which had called a
special election at the School Board's request for June 28, 2022.
ITEM BACKGROUND: On February 8, 2022, the Monroe County School Board adopted
Resolution 2022-001 (attached), which directs the County Commission to request the Supervisor of
Elections to place on the August 23, 2022 primary election ballot a referendum on whether the
School District should continue to enact a yearly ad valorem tax of .5 mill, for four (4) years,
beginning on January 1, 2023 for operating expenses of the School District. The proposed BOCC
voters on the August 23, 2022 primary election.
Due to time constraints presented by necessary election preparations and potential changes in
pending legislation, HB 777, the School Board simultaneously adopted an alternative resolution by
the same number directing the BOCC to call a special election for June 28, 2022 to place a nearly
identical referendum before the voters. The BOCC adopted Resolution 067-2022 to accommodate
referenda to be held during general elections, had an effective date of July 1, 2022. The effective
date of HB 777 was subsequently amended to October 1, 2022, making it lawful to hold the School
counsel, notified the County Attorney that due to the change in the effective date of HB 777, that the
Special Election is no longer necessary.
The proposed resolution also rescinds BOCC Resolution 067-2022, which called the Special
Election. This action effectively cancels the previously called June 28, 2022 Special Election.
The Schos the statutory process currently set forth in F.S. 1011.73 for
placing a referendum question on the ballot. That statute requires BOCC authorization to place a
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referendum on the ballot but places the financial responsibility for any costs associated with noticing
and conducting the election on the school board.
The School Board
RENEWAL OF OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS:
The School District seeks to continue its reduced millage for capital projects, making a
proportional amount available for operational expenses, like teacher salaries. The District also
seeks to continue retaining legally-required safe schools officers.
Shall the District enact a yearly ad valorem tax of no more than 0.5625 mill, for four (4) years
beginning January 1, 2023, for raising revenue for purposes of funding enhanced security
measures and operational expenses of Monroe County schools?
____________ YES ____________ NO
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: On February 8, 2022, the BOCC adopted
Resolution 067-2022.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval
DOCUMENTATION:
BOCC Resolution placing school board question on August 23 2022 primary election ballot
corrected 4.6.22
Exhibt A to Resolution MCSD Resolution 001-2022 Operational + Security Millage Referendum
Resolution (Primary Election)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date: N/A
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County: None.
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds: School Board will advertise referendum at its expense.
CPI:
Indirect Costs:
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Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
REVIEWED BY:
Bob Shillinger Completed 03/23/2022 2:28 PM
Bob Shillinger Completed 03/23/2022 5:05 PM
Purchasing Skipped 03/23/2022 5:04 PM
Budget and Finance Completed 04/01/2022 3:57 PM
Brian Bradley Skipped 03/23/2022 5:05 PM
Lindsey Ballard Completed 04/04/2022 4:46 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 04/20/2022 9:00 AM
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RESOLUTION 2022 001
A RESOLUTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, PROPOSING RENEWAL OF TEACHER SALARY MILLAGE
LEVY, APPROVING FORM OF BALLOT QUESTION, REQUESTING
PLACEMENT OF REFERENDUM ON BALLOT, PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, due to limitations in the State of Florida funding formula, the Monroe County
School District has experienced budgetary shortfalls with respect to teacher salaries,
insurance benefits, and classroom materials since 2004; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the State of Florida issued a mandate to promote school safety and
enhanced coordination between education and law enforcement entities to
comprehensively address the crisis of gun violence on school campuses in the wake of the
tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; and
WHEREAS, Florida Statute § 1011.71(9) provides for an increase in ad valorem taxes for
the purpose of raising additional funds for school operational purposes pursuant to
referendum levying additional millage approved by the voters of Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, Florida law requires that any discretionary millage levied by the Monroe
County School District for operational funding be approved by the voters at least every
four (4) years; and
WHEREAS, the voters of Monroe County previously approved a referendum authorizing
the School District to raise funds for purposes of funding teacher salaries, insurance
benefits and classroom materials for a four (4) year period beginning July 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the voters of Monroe County previously approved a referendum authorizing
the School District to raise funds for purposes of maintaining and improving the safety and
security of local schools for a four (4) year period beginning January 1, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the School Board of Monroe County, Florida requires a renewal of the
previously levied millage to continue meeting its operational budgetary needs with respect
to teacher salaries, insurance benefits, classroom materials and meeting the enhanced safety
and security measures now required by law; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County School District wishes to combine the operational millage
approved by the voters in 2018 and 2020 into a single referendum, which if approved,
would void the remaining two years of millage approved in 2020; and
WHEREAS, the School Board of Monroe County, Florida intends to issue a voter
referendum in a special election on August 23, 2022, requesting that the citizens of Monroe
County, Florida approve a renewal of the 2018 and 2020 operational millages;
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
1.!Adoption of Recitals
The recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as
if set forth in the body of this Resolution.
2.!Requesting Placement of Referendum on Election Ballot
Pursuant to Florida Statute § 1011.73(2), the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County, Florida is hereby directed to call an election on August 23, 2022 for the qualified
electors of the Monroe County School District to vote on a continuation of the current ad
valorem millage rate set for the operating expenses of the School District as authorized by
Florida Statute § 1011.71(9).
3.!Approval of Ballot Question
The substance of the millage referendum and the ballot title shall read:
RENEWAL OF OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR MONROE COUNTY
SCHOOLS:
The School District seeks to continue its reduced millage for capital projects, making a
proportional amount available for operational expenses, like teacher salaries. The District
also seeks to continue retaining legally-required safe schools officers.
Shall the District enact a yearly ad valorem tax of no more than 0.5625 mill, for four (4)
years beginning January 1, 2023, for raising revenue for purposes of funding enhanced
security measures and operational expenses of Monroe County schools?
____________ YES ____________ NO
4.!Effective Date
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the School Board
of Monroe County, Florida.
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DULY ADOPTED by the School Board of Monroe County, Florida this 8 day of
February, 2022.
Board Chair John Dick NO__________ YES_________
Vice-Chair Andy Griffiths NO__________ YES_________
Board Member Mindy Conn NO__________ YES_________
Board Member Robert Highsmith NO__________ YES_________
Board Member Suzanne Woltanski NO__________ YES_________
_______________________________________
Superintendent, Theresa Axford
_______________________________________
Dirk M. Smits, B.C.S., Board Attorney
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