GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADOPTS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
M-DCPS’ CAPITAL BOND REFERENDUM

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce passed and adopted a resolution supporting Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ capital bond referendum to modernize and construct schools, including technology upgrades at all schools.  The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is South Florida’s largest business organization, reaching more than 400,000 employees through its member companies.  The Chamber supports economic and business issues including regional business development, international business development, leadership programs and governmental affairs.  

At its August 15 meeting, the Miami-Dade County School Board approved placing a $1.2 billion General Obligation (GO) Bond referendum before voters in the upcoming November 6 election.  The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) approved Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ request to issue the GO Bond last month.

Approval of the GO Bond by the voters is essential to the District as it seeks a sustainable long-term solution to providing 21st Century Schools for all Miami-Dade students.

Approving the GO Bond now makes sense because GOs issued in 1988 are being paid off, so homeowners will not experience a significant increase in taxes. Construction costs are significantly lower than their peak, and interest rates are at historical lows. Timing the issuance of the GOs now is critical in order not to add costs to taxpayers.

Finding a solution to meet the District’s capital needs has been an ongoing priority for the current district administration and a recurring topic of concern for Board members. Over the last seven years, the District has made great strides to build new and replacement schools to comply with the class-size mandate. In total, the District delivered over 105,000 new student seats.

Since recent capital funding has mostly gone to provide new schools or additions, the needs of older schools have not been addressed.  Almost half of the District's school buildings are over 40 years old, and over one third are more than 50 years old. The downturn in the real estate market over the last five years and the decrease in state capital funding have compounded the capital-funding shortfall.  It is impossible for the District to address the mounting needs of the aging schools and fund state-of-the-art technology for all schools without a voter-approved solution.

The 21st Century Schools initiative will provide prosperity and security in the community as capital from outside the county will be invested within the local economy, and as a result students will be better prepared for the 21st Century global economy. The long-term benefits of continuing the GO Program in 2012 far outweigh the minimal increase in taxes.

Voters are empowered to determine if long-term needs of school facilities benefiting a new generation of students merit continuing the GO Program by authorizing $1.2 billion of GO Bonds in 2012.

The Bonds will help enhance the safety and security of school buildings; renovate or upgrade every school; guarantee technology equity across all schools; seek stakeholder input while minimizing the burden to taxpayers; promote greater public/private partnerships; provide economic development and employment opportunities to our community; and provide transparency and confidence with citizen advisory and oversight committees to ensure timely and equitable distribution of projects.

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