Clay School Board considering next steps for sales tax push

The Clay County School Board is looking in to what options are available, after the County Commission sent a sales tax referendum back to them for "refinement".

The School Board voted last month to put a half-cent sales tax to support school infrastructure needs to a vote by you. Initially, they did not set a specific date for that referendum, but they later amended the request to push for November 5th, 2019. The School District says they have around $318 million in funding needs for infrastructure repairs and upgrades currently, and $300 million in needs for new school construction in the next ten years. They say this reflects a combination of years of deferred maintenance, as well as the anticipated growth of the future, which will only be increased because of big projects like the First Coast Expressway.

This sales tax would be in place for 30 years, bringing in around $400 million if approved, according to District estimates.

The Clay County Commission has to approve the referendum, and Commissioners were told ahead of their vote Tuesday night that staff interpreted that action to be mandatory. A few Commissioners pushed back on the interpretation, though, and raised their belief that the Board had some discretion.

That discretion was ultimately used in the Tuesday vote, when Commissioners decided to send the proposal back to the School Board for more work, instead of putting it through to a ballot.

“How long do our students need to wait? We provide wonderful educational programs for our students don't they deserve good facilities as well,” School Board member Tina Bullock tells WOKV.

Bullock says she is disappointed with how Commissioners voted, and she believes their job was simply to pass through the measure. Board Member Janice Kerekes says the Board Attorney is currently exploring legal options.

“We need to stop kicking this can down the road, and we need to move forward with a special election so that we can start collecting revenue immediately, as soon as January 1st,” Kerekes says.

Bullock says she never wants to sue another government agency, but she will consider that action based on what the School Board Attorney recommends.

WOKV has reached out to the School Board Attorney and other School Board members for their responses.

The County Commission raised several concerns about what they call "refinement" needed in the School Board plan. They took issue with the wording, for example, and whether it was too broad to ensure the money would only fund infrastructure needs. The language mentions security needs, and there were questions about how that intersects with a recently voter-approved property tax hike for Clay County school security needs.

They also questioned whether the advisory committee called for in the proposal would function truly independently, since they would be appointed by the School Board.

Commissioners also took exception to calling a special election for this issue, citing the cost and expected low turnout. They specifically called for the School Board to instead set the referendum to be a part of the 2020 General Election, as they refine the plan and send it back to the Commission.

The Clay County School District is declining to comment at this time, saying the Superintendent is waiting for direction from the School Board on what is next.