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Penny Tax Generating Less Money For Schools

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By RONNIE BLAIR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - The local school district collected fewer sales tax dollars from Penny for Pasco in the first 10 months of 2007 than in the same period the previous year, officials reported Tuesday.

The outlook for 2008 isn't any better because of the slowing economy's effect on tax collections, Gary Bracken, chairman of the Penny for Pasco School Oversight Committee, told the school board.

"The economy will not get any stronger in the next year or so," Bracken said.

Money from the tax is used to build new schools and renovate and repair old ones.

In 2007, the district collected $11.6 million from Penny for Pasco through October, the most recent month for which reports are available, said Olga Swinson, the district's chief finance officer.

That is down from $13.4 million for the same period in 2006.
Swinson said she anticipates the final total for 2007, once November's and December's revenue is known, will be $2 million to $2.5 million below the 2006 total of $16.5 million.

Despite the revenue drop, Bracken said district administrators have done a good job dealing with economic conditions and keeping construction projects on track.

"After three years it's now possible to see what the Penny has done," Bracken said.

He noted the oversight committee took a tour in October of two schools built with proceeds from the tax - New River Elementary and Double Branch Elementary - and visited Stewart Middle in Zephyrhills, which underwent extensive renovations.

Pasco voters approved the extra penny tax in a March 2004 referendum and the tax took effect in January 2005. The proceeds are split, with the school board and county commission each getting 45 percent. The remaining 10 percent is shared among the county's municipalities.

The school district's share must be spent on construction, renovations and repairs. The school board created the oversight committee to make sure the district's portion of the money is spent appropriately. The committee meets quarterly and makes an annual report to the board.

The district, which opened five new schools this academic year and six last year, plans to build several more over the next few years to ease crowding at existing campuses.

Penny for Pasco isn't the only source of school construction money. A portion of the local property tax is earmarked for capital improvements, and the district also receives money from the state.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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