| Policy review - No Division Assigned |
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Title: Recommendation: I recommend that the School Board authorize the Superintendent to issue a “Call to Action” in accordance with School Board Policy 2.591, Calls to Action, for the express purpose of supporting the petition drive for signatures for three proposed Florida Constitutional amendments associated with the FAIR Amendment for state review of tax exemptions. Description: Former Florida Senate President John McKay, former State Comptroller Robert Milligan and former State Attorney General Bob Butterworth are leading a drive to require the Florida Legislature to review more than $20 billion in existing sales tax exemptions on services and other goods. The value of exemptions in 2004-5 exceeded that value of taxed goods and services by over $4 billion. As the Palm Beach County School District continues to face fiscal constraints including state funding of class size reduction from existing revenues rather than new revenues as sought by voters in 2002, it is imperative that the state look at new revenue streams to provide adequate funding. The Board’s 2006 Preliminary Legislative Priorities call for such new revenue streams. The “FAIR” (Floridians Against Inequities in Rates) Amendment is now a connected series of three, single subject amendments that would force the Legislature to look at all sales tax exemptions to develop a more equitable and adequate tax base in Florida. The FAIR Amendment campaign has been endorsed by education groups including the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA), Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA), and the Florida Education Association (FEA). Associated with FEA, the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association is spearheading a local drive for petition signatures. Approval of this agenda item is requested as part of Board Policy 2.591 that declares, “The School Board of Palm Beach County finds a clear and concrete public, educational purpose in encouraging community members and District employees to voluntarily participate, outside of employees' regular work hours, in contacting the federal and state legislative and executive branches to advocate the Board's position on legislative or budgetary issues affecting the district school system, because the Board reasonably expects that such lobbying activities will result in improving educational opportunities for students of the District School System by means of improved funding, legislation, or rules and regulations that are more practical or favorable to the district's educational program.” The CTA will be responsible for distribution and collection of the petition forms. Principals will be encouraged to support the CTA effort in each school. The petition drive will occur from now through the middle of December with most efforts completed by December 2nd. Financial Impact: For Additional Information, contact: Joseph Moore and Vernon A. Pickup-Crawford Attachments (list):
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