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AMENDMENT 8: Local Option Community College Funding

Poll Opened: October 23, 2008

Poll Closes: November 30, 2008

AMENDMENT 8: Local Option Community College Funding

ON THE BALLOT: "Proposing an amendment to the state Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding; requiring voter approval to levy the tax; providing that approved taxes will sunset after 5 years and may be reauthorized by the voters."

THE GIST: This would give counties the power to ask voters to say yes or no to a special sales tax that would provide more money to community colleges than what they get from the state or from tuition revenue.

PROS: Community college leaders say their schools are in high demand, but the money they get from the state can't keep up. Currently, the state pays money to community colleges based on the average enrollment over the past three years, not on a projected increase in students.

CONS: Some rural community colleges that serve less populous regions worry that the tax would create a system of "haves" and "have nots" benefitting more populous urban colleges. Others, such as Hillsborough Community College, haven't taken a position, saying they question whether the tax would prompt state lawmakers to earmark less money for their schools.

- Adam Emerson

Reader Comments on this poll

Posted by ( silvercartwheel ) on October 27, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Where is all the money from the Florida Lottery that is supposedly going to education actually going?

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