SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL NOT ADVERTISE TAX INCREASE

MIAMI – For the first time in a decade, the Miami-Dade school district will not advertise a tax increase this year.

“We must take into consideration the unprecedented economic devastation that has already taken place in this community when planning for the taxes that will be levied on homeowners,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “We must make a conscious effort to avoid raising taxes whenever possible.”

Two major components account for most of the school taxes that property owners pay. The first is state-required local effort. As the value of homes decreased in recent years, so did Miami-Dade’s tax rolls, and the Florida Legislature was forced to increase the millage for this portion of taxes. This tax is determined annually by Tallahassee and, by law, must be assessed locally. Required local effort millage will rise from 5.146 to 5.450 mills this year, causing the typical homeowner to experience an increase of $64.82.

The other major component of school taxes is locally levied millage, which is controlled by the School Board.  This part of taxes will actually decrease by .139 mills thus lowering the average homeowner’s tax bill by $28.53.

Over the past several years, Miami-Dade County has witnessed a trend that has resulted in a dramatic shift of education costs from the state to the local taxpayers, with the state providing only about 30 percent of the total funding, when only a few years ago it provided 70 percent.

The Miami-Dade school district also will not levy an additional .25 mills for capital construction.  The school district was given the option to do so by the Florida Legislature, when, to fill a gap in education funding after it shifted .25 mills of school districts’ capital funds to operations earlier this year. 

“The millage recommendation that has been presented to the School Board lives up to the law and respects our community, which is made up, to a large part, by the parents of students served by the school district,” Carvalho said.  “Those students represent our future, and we must always do the right thing to protect them and ensure their education.”

“We must keep in mind, however, that because of the Legislature’s use of federal stimulus money to fix holes in school funding, we are living on borrowed time, using temporary money,” Carvalho added. “There is a need for long-term solutions at the state and federal levels.  Now is the time to put kids first.”

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09-JS-007

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