Page 4 - BPS News Nov 2017

Legislative agenda 2018
Modernize funding formula for transporta on
• Florida’s funding formula should be revised to cover the actual cost of busing students. In 2016-2017, Brevard Public Schools received $10.2 million for the cost of transpor ng students under the formula. But its actual cost was $18.3 million. Brevard covered the $8.1 million annual di erence with other funds meant for instruc on and other school opera ons.
• The Legislature should authorize its own study of statewide transportation costs, possibly through the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. Statewide data from the Florida School Finance O cers shows all
67 districts experience shortfalls on transportation funding. For 2016, the statewide shortfall was
54 percent or $504.4 million.
Advanced-manufacturing center – Adult Educa on
Brevard Adult Educa on seeks $1.5 million to establish
a center for teaching manufacturing and welding skills at its campus in Cocoa. The program would allow students who might otherwise be high-school dropouts to not
only earn diplomas or GEDs but also become cer ed produc on technicians. The program (including equipment, sta training and building) would prepare students for manufacturing and welding – both on the CareerSource targeted occupa ons list.
Maintain Required Local E ort tax rate (RLE)
Keep the RLE tax rate for opera ons the same in 2018-2019 and allow school districts’ revenue to recover with the economy they have helped improve. BPS seeks exibility to spend the increased revenue on strategic ini a ves peci cally meant to improve performance in Space Coast schools. Under the rolled-back RLE, funding for Brevard schools rose in 2017-2018 by 1.5 percent, or $7.8 million, due to new construc on. However, new state spending mandates such as higher re rement contribu ons raised BPS’ costs by $8 million, threatening a poten al $200,000 de cit.
Come in for a FREE Second Look® Review.1
1 At participating offices. Results vary. All tax situations are different. Fees apply if you have us file a corrected or amended return. The IRS allows taxpayers to amend returns from the previous
Call or visit hrblock.com
to make an appointment today.
three tax years to claim additional refunds to which they are entitled. Applies to individual tax returns only. OBTP#B13696 © 2017 HRB Tax Group, Inc.
3