Remarks made to the PBC School Board on Tax Increase Proposal

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OPENING: Good evening. My name is Teri Hughes. I am a PBC tax payer and my 16-year-old daughter attends a PBC high school.

At the last PBC School Board meeting we heard from the Board members discuss placing the proposed tax hike on the ballet in November to cover the cost of the mandatory hiring of Resource Officers, as well as mental health resources in order to fulfill the mandates set forth in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The proposal would add $1 to every $1000.00 in taxable dollars if it’s placed on the November ballot and approved by the voters.

It is critical that every tax payer in this room familiarizes themselves with the data before any votes are cast. Hat tip to WJNO’s Brian Mudd’s Cheat Sheet and Jane Justice, one of our leaders.

OVERALL REVENUES

• Broward County: Received $74 million over last year and $152 million over two years.
• Miami-Dade County: $87 million over last year and $144 million over two years.
• Palm Beach County: $477 million over last year and $629 million over two years. This money represents 50% of the entire budget of PGC.

 

$ PER STUDENT

• Broward County: $8,928.00/student
• Miami-Dade: $9,116.00/student
• Palm Beach County: $15,420/student
• Average state spending per student in PBC is $8,920

Average per Student for the 2017-2018 School Year

• Broward County: +$9 or .001% higher
• Miami-Dade County: +$196 or +2.2% higher
• Palm Beach County: +$6,500 or 72.9% higher

Now Let’s take a look at Administrator’s Base Salaries which come from tax payer dollars

• Superintendent Avosa was hired at: $325,000/yr
• Avosa’s two friends were hired at $202,000/yr and $190,962 respectively.
• MB $185,657/yr
• DF $185,400/yr
• GL $175,100/yr
• LC $169,332
• WP $161,600/yr
• ST $157,996.65/yr
• TOTAL: $1,567,390
• During the 2015-2017 school calendar year, salaries over $120,000 doubled from 37 staff to 74. That’s 120,000 x 74 = $8,800,000

These salaries in my opinion are outrageous and what is even more outrageous is the CHUTZPAH of the School Board asking taxpayers in PBCC for more money.

Palm Beach County has seen a windfall from the 16.7% sales tax increase in PBC, which the PBC school district nets half of. I would argue this places Palm Beach County in a financial position that should enable it to meet all its needs, challenges, and cost increases without even blinking an eye – let alone suggesting other tax increases are necessary.  

So I have just one question for each of you; where is the $629 million being allocated to if not the retention of good teachers and safe schools.

I say NO to property tax increases in PBC. Maybe you need to manage your money better.