Taking on the tax part 1: Schools

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Ed Ruping/ The Chronicle

By Jessica J. Saggio | April 09, 2014

Taking on the tax is a series that will break down the penny sales tax issues specific to East Seminole County, schools and to those opposed. The county takes a vote on the issue in a special election on May 20. Voters will decide whether the county will raise sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, generating about $63.1 million annually for the next 10 years.

An SCPS history lesson

Seminole County Public Schools are no stranger to promoting a sales tax.

A look back into 2001 and 2010 shows that this isn't the first time the school system has toiled with the tax at hand, and neither have voters. Needing the funds for integral projects, school officials say they have desperately needed the sales tax funding as budgets continually are cut at the state level.

But before one delves into those tax issues, its important to note that the School Board wasn't always involved. In 1991, voters passed a sales tax referendum generating about $360 million in sales tax revenue. The school system wasn't yet on board with a portion of the revenue.

But in 2001, the tide changed as the School Board jumped on board with the idea of a sales tax referendum. Voters again passed the sales tax with a 72 percent majority. According to county documents, the tax generated $590 million, with 25 percent of that going to SCPS.

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Taking on the tax part 1: Schools