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School Budget Up For Discussion

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By RONNIE BLAIR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Pasco County residents who want to speak out on the school district's proposed 2008-09 budget get one more chance Tuesday.

The Pasco County School Board will hold its second and final public hearing on the budget and proposed tax rate at 6 p.m. at the district's administrative offices, 7205 Land O' Lakes Blvd. The board meeting room is in building No. 3.

The board gave tentative approval July 29 to its $1.2 billion budget, a spending plan for schools that represents a drop of more than 7 percent from the current fiscal year.

At that first public hearing, the board also tentatively agreed to keep the tax rate at $7.21 per $1,000 of taxable property value.

Based on the proposed tax rate, a property owner who has $200,000 worth of taxable property would pay $1,442, the same as this past year. The district expects to collect about $210.5 million from the tax.

The local property tax is just one source of revenue for the school district. Pasco schools also receive money from the state, the federal government, the Penny for Pasco local sales tax initiative and impact fees on new construction.

This year's total budget is down from about $1.3 billion in 2007-08. The decline is due to funding cuts by the state Legislature and a drop in the overall value of taxable property in Pasco County.

The board's vote on the budget comes during a tight financial year that Superintendent Heather Fiorentino has predicted could get tighter in the fall when the Legislature is expected to hold a special session and possibly make additional education cuts.

An unexpected drop in student enrollment this year could cost the district even more money.

As of the 10-day count Aug. 29, the district had 63,621 students. That was up 389 from the same point a year ago but well below the 1,387 students the district was expected to grow by.

Fiorentino told the school board at an Aug. 26 workshop that if the district remains 1,000 students short of the projection, it would cost the district $4.5 million. The state provides funding to school districts based on enrollment.

A 20-day count will be made Tuesday. That will be the first count after Labor Day, when enrollment often goes up. Assistant Superintendent Ray Gadd, though, said at the workshop that he doesn't think the enrollment jump will be significant.

An official head count takes place in October, and that count will determine the state funding.

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

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