Today’s classrooms. Tomorrow’s workforce.
Voters Will Decide on Nov. 3, 2020
It’s official. Voters will decide on Nov. 3 whether to provide funding to upgrade schools through repairs and modernization, keep schools safe, improve technology and replace existing or build new schools. The ballot language here authorizes the Duval School Board to levy a 15-year half-cent sales tax. On April 14, 2020, the Jacksonville City Council voted to approve the resolution requested by the School Board to place the referendum on the ballot, ending a legal dispute between the two government bodies. This web page and future communication is designed to inform voters about everything they need to know, including the Master Facility Plan, projected revenue, cost to taxpayers, why it’s needed, economic benefits to the community and how facilities improve student achievement.
5 Reasons for Change
Just like work spaces, research shows a good learning environment improves achievement. All students in the county deserve a building and resources to succeed economically.
5
New schools are needed in some areas and that will allow us to remove portables in existing schools.
4
Safety and security upgrades will be provided for every school.
3
Some schools are very small or operating way below student capacity, wasting precious dollars to maintain the buildings. They need to be consolidated with other schools to increase resources for teaching and cut overhead.
2
Our schools are the oldest in the state. They desperately need basic maintenance and upgrades, like air conditioners, roofing, flooring and window replacement. State funding cuts have caused a $1 billion maintenance backlog.
1
Why Is It Needed? Old Schools, State Cuts, Economic Stimulus
Duval’s Schools are
Florida’s Oldest
Orange
20
Years
Palm Beach
Years
21
Broward
Years
28
Pinellas
Years
32
Hillsborough
Years
33
Miami-Dade
33
Years
St. Johns
25
Years
Duval
Years
44
Average Age of Florida Schools in the 7 Largest Districts (Years)
20% Funding Loss
State Funding Cuts Since 2008 have reduced facility funding to almost $300 million over 11 years. This has caused back- logged maintenance of $243 million. Because of the age of the schools, backlogged maintenance will balloon to $1 billion in five years.
Economic Stimulus
The referendum provides a community-wide economic stimulus package. The cost to the individual is small, while the benefit to the community is huge. It will boost our economy, expedite the road to recovery, create thousands of jobs and help hundreds of businesses. It will increase the value of neighborhoods and homes while improving schools.