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Board Approves School Budget Of $3.2 Billion

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By Marilyn Brown The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 6, 2007

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TAMPA - The Hillsborough School Board gave final approval to a $3.2 billion budget for the 2007-08 school year Thursday and approved a new property tax rate.

The budget is $127 million more than the previous year, but could be less if a shortfall in state revenue requires districts to cut, district budget director Gretchen Saunders said. If the state tells school districts to cut between 2 percent and 4 percent, Hillsborough would have to reduce spending by between $18 million and $37 million, she said.

The local property tax rate is 7.523 mills, or $7.52 for every $1,000 of taxable property. That's three-tenths of a mill less than last year's rate of $7.82 per $1,000 of taxable property. The new tax rate is expected to generate more revenue because there is more taxable property and higher appraisals.

Several speakers representing the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope asked the board to help them with $75,000 in funding this year. The group helps local youngsters from low-income families further their educations by learning leadership skills.

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said the district will meet with the agency today.

Although the budget was the prime business on what looked to be a very short meeting, it eventually turned to differences that blew up a board workshop on team building last week.

After regular business, board Vice Chairwoman Jennifer Faliero asked for an explanation of the district's new Merit Award Program, saying she had more than 350 comments and questions from employees who didn't get the money.

It was nearly an hour later before district staff and the union chief had explained it and answered questions.

This time the pointed questions came from board member Susan Valdes, who said she liked the information but wanted to know how Faliero got such attention for a subject not on the agenda.

"I was just floored in a good kind of way," said Valdes, in her third year on the board. "I wanted to know - how I can do that, too."

For nearly another hour the board debated that point.

Tom Gonzalez, school board attorney, said the board chairman - not a single member - can ask for such a presentation. Faliero was sitting in for absent board Chairman Jack Lamb.

April Griffin, who slammed the door behind her as she left the training session last week, said she still wants to know how she can represent the community while working as just one member of a board that is supposed to work as one.

She said pre-board meetings with staff "to lobby us" on items coming up for votes "might be contrary to the spirit of the Sunshine" law.

Griffin, elected in November, asked for a workshop, but the board agreed to revive a committee that was supposed to produce a procedure book for new members. Griffin asked to be on the committee as did board member Candy Olson.

"I think all of us are on that committee," board member Carol Kurdell told her.

In other action, the board approved Rory Salimbene, general manager of maintenance, as general manager of construction, effective Monday. He replaces Tom Blackwell, who retired Aug. 31.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069 or mbrown@tampatrib.com.

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