House bill to help Florida charter schools with capital costs dies

By The Associated Press
Published: February 14, 2012

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TALLAHASSEE — A proposal to give charter schools a guaranteed share of public school tax dollars for maintenance, rent and other capital outlay has died in a House appropriations subcommittee.

The panel Tuesday refused to add it to a bill (HB 903) setting new accountability criteria for charter schools. The amendment failed on a tie vote but the underlying bill was approved.

Rep. Janet Adkins, a Fernandina Beach Republican who sponsored both, said she'd try again in the bill's next committee.

Opponents noted Adkins couldn't say how much the funding proposal would cost school districts and objected to taking a piecemeal approach to the issue.

A Senate bill (SB 1852) has a similar provision. That proposal awaits action in committee.

Charters are public schools run by third parties including for-profit companies.