Page 2 - Dec2017 BPS

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Watchdog commi ee report: BPS spending sales tax properly
Brevard Public Schools is spending revenue from the half-cent sales surtax for facili es the way voters mandated, the Independent Ci zens Oversight Commi ee (ICOC) says.
The oversight group — also established by voters — presented its annual
report during the Dec. 12 Brevard County School Board mee ng. The ICOC monitors how the district spends money from the .5-cent-per-dollar surtax. Passed in 2014, the surtax funds cri cal facility renewal, educa onal technology and school-security projects across the Space Coast.
The program is also audited twice a year by the district’s private internal auditors, RSM. Their most recent audit, in November, found no problems for the third year in a row.
As of Sept. 30, 2017, $109.2 million in sales surtax revenue had been received.
The voter-approved project list called for spending 83.5 percent of revenue on building renewal, 13.5 percent
on educa onal technology, and 2.9 percent on school security over the six-year life of the tax. Here’s how BPS spent the money in 2016-2017:
“Adhering to promises made in 2014 is very important,” Superintendent Desmond Blackburn said.
Revenue con nues to exceed projec ons, thanks to a strong economy, with more than $116 million received by the end of November 2017. This has allowed for several failing mechanical systems to be addressed earlier than planned.
In addi on, the ICOC recommended — and the School Board approved accelera ng — the district school security program using a temporary transfer of resources from facility renewal to security. Security improvements will be complete at all schools by April 2018. This is possible without impac ng the facility renewal program because of the revenue received above the projec ons.
This chart depicts the di erence between the es mated and actual revenue received by the district for recent scal years:
system renewal. The Stone Middle project also included roof renewal. For details about the surtax projects from scal year 2016-2017, visit FY 2016- 17 Surtax Projects.
The district is already planning for summer 2018. Upcoming projects include facility renewal at:
• Croton Elementary
• Rockledge High
• Ralph Williams Elementary
• Cocoa High – includes non-surtax renova on of Building 18 and 12 classroom addi ons opening in 2019
• Mila Elementary
• Golfview Elementary • Coquina Elementary
• South Lake Elementary – facility renewal advanced to support reopening in 2018
This chart shows the percentage of spending for the various facility renewal categories:
FACILITY RENEWAL SPENDING BY CATEGORY
HOW YOUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT
$120,000,000 $100,000,000 $80,000,000 $60,000,000 $40,000,000 $20,000,000
$0
Estimated Revenue
Actual Revenue
Variance
HVAC 71% Electrical 12% Plumbing 2% Building Envelope 11% Code/Fire Alarm 3% Site utilities 1%
SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
Facility
Renewal $ 86,605,197
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2017
79.28%
Contingency $5,467,653
School Security $3,179,797
During summer 2017, the district invested more than $40 million in facility renewal funds at 17 schools. Projects at Stone Middle and Melbourne High were both more than $5 million, with extensive mechanical
The ICOC annual report also highlights that the district uses the Owner Direct Purchase program to save sales tax
by directly purchasing the materials and equipment. To date, such tax-free purchases total more than $11 million,
con nue on page 8
BPS NEWS is a publica on of Brevard Public Schools.
Superintendent
Desmond K. Blackburn, Ph.D.
School Board Members
Chairman: John Craig, District 2
Vice Chairman: Tina Descovich, District 3 Misty Belford, District 1
Ma hew Susin, District 4
Andy Ziegler, District 5
Published by the Division of Government and Community Rela ons
Assistant Superintendent: Ma Reed Editor: Jennifer Wol nger
Graphic Designer: Daniel Jankowski
BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Educa onal Services Facility 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way | Viera, FL 32940-6601 | 321-633-1000 Brevard Public Schools is an
equal opportunity employer.
12.81%
5.01%
2.90%
$16,136,363 $33,000,195 $33,000,195 $2,565,785 $84,702,538
$19,510,990 $41,670,592 $44,914,835 $3,141,884 $109,238,301
$3,374,627 $8,670,397 $11,914,640 $576,099 $24,535,763
Educational Technology $13,994,654
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
This publication is printed and distributed at no cost to the tax payer and is fully underwritten by the advertisers.
CUMULATIVE REVENUE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
FY 14/15
FY 15/16
FY 16/17
FY 17/18
Total
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1.70%
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*APY=Annual Percentage Yield. Assumes certificate is held to maturity. Early withdrawal will incur penalties. Offer ends 12/31/17 or when withdrawn by CCU. Membership is available in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Indian River, Volusia, and Polk Counties. Federally insured by NCUA.
Hurry! Offer ends December 31, 2017