HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 09 24 Other - Handout during Presentations '300'Date: September 24, 2012
This document was provided to the Mayor and
City Commission on this date by Seminole
County Public Schools under Awards and
Presentations "300" during the same September
241 2012 City Commission Regular Meeting.
Important dates to keep in
- Early voting begins
• Oct. 31 - Last day to request a mailed absentee ballot
• Nov. 6 - Election Day! Polls opened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
EDUCATION: The Key To Informed Votes
This election year there are many items on
the ballot, and all of them deserve your careful
consideration. We want to draw your attention to
one referendum in particular. You will find it on
the back side of your ballot, as
the last item. Easy to find!
Seminole County residents are
known for carefully considering
all ballot initiatives. Below are
the hard questions, with answers
provided that will "tell it like it is."
How do our schools rank today?
Despite painfully deep cuts at the
local, state and federal levels,
Seminole County Schools:
• Has consistently earned
a District grade of "A"
since 1999;
• Is ranked first among
Central Florida school
districts in FCAT reading,
math and writing;
• Is the #1 school district
in the State of Florida for
delivering our taxpayers with
the best Return on
Investment (ROI).*
So why the referendum?
Good question. Our school district has been has
been "making do" with less for too many years.
We've lost 750 school district jobs over the past
four years. Now the district is forced
to look at cutting programs, such as
music, the arts and even athletics.
Crystal Lake Elementary School
children, Addison (pre -K) and
Hayden (K).
lkrk, ;
Seminole County
Public Schools
What will it the cost if it passes?
The average cost per home will be
less than $9 a month. That's taking
into account the average taxable
property value of a home in Seminole
County ($130,000) with the standard
$25,000 Homestead Exemption
applied. At the new millage rate, the
average school tax bill still would be
lower than it has been in the years
2006 -2010.
How will it be spent?
The additional millage would be
applied to critical needs such as:
• Attracting and retaining highly qualified
teachers
• Enhancing career and vocational education
programs to help students get jobs
• Preserving outstanding student academic
and arts programs
• Ensuring students excel by providing up -to-
date technology for computer -based testing
• Maintenance and repair of aging school
facilities and buses
What is a "mill" as it relates to the referendum.
Mill is a term that refers to a government tax
assessment of $1 per $1,000 of taxable property
value. For example, if your home has a taxable
value of $50,000, the tax payment per mill is $50
per year.
Why now?
Many of us believed the Great Recession would
be over by now. Our schools can't take any more
budget cuts, and our kids and teachers shouldn't
have to. Seminole County Public Schools has
proven to be a strong and trusted steward of
taxpayer dollars, and we can count on that to
continue.
What can you do?
Education is key to casting an informed vote.
Get the facts and you will see why it is vitally
important to vote, whether absentee, early voting
or on November 6, Election Day.
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Our school board voted to put the future of our schools in
your hands. As superintendent, I urge you to give thoughtful
consideration to these two questions:
What will SCPS look like if the referendum is as ssed?
What will SCPS look like if the referendum fails?
Please share this important information with your friends. Be sure
to vote either by absentee ballot, early voting or on November 6th,
Election Day.
"We've already cut more than 750 jobs.
We are running out of things to cut."
- Walt Griffin
SCPS Superintendent
SEMINOLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
AD VALOREM MILLAGE ELECTION
BALLOT QUESTION: Shall Seminole County School District ad valorem millage be increased by up to one
mill beginning July 1, 2013, and ending no more than four (4) fiscal years later on June 30, 2017, for essential
operating expenses to: preserve "A" rated academic, vocational, arts, and athletic programs; retain highly
qualified teachers; and repair and maintain school buildings with annual reporting to the county's citizens to
ensure fiscal stewardship of the funds?
YES FOR APPROVAL
NO FOR REJECTION
*SOURCE: Center for American Progress www.americanprogress.org Para ver esta informaci6n en espanol vaya a www.scps.us
This document complies with the provisions of s. 106.113, Fla. Stat.; opinions issued by the Division of Elections, Office of the Secretary of State for the
State of Florida; and People Against Tax Revenue Mismanagement v County of Leon, 583 So.2d 127 (Florida Supreme Ct. 199 1)
Printed on recycled paper.