- April 23, 2024
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After its proposed special tax was rejected by voters by a large margin, the Flagler County School Board is moving forward with $1.8 million in cuts to its budget for the next fiscal year.
“We’ve received direction about which cuts to make if this tax didn’t pass, so we’re making those cuts,” Superintendent Janet Valentine said at a board meeting Monday. “They’ll be reflected in the proposed budget that will come before you.”
Those cuts included restructuring Everest Alternative School at about a $500,000 savings, eliminating six paraprofessional positions and restructuring the district’s custodial department.
About 20% of Flagler County’s registered voters participated in Friday’s special election, and about 57% of them voted against the tax.
The proposed 0.5 millage property levy was meant to do two things: First, it would continue a 0.25 mill tax already in place to help the district meet shortfalls in its budget. It would also increase that tax by another 0.25 mills to restore 45 minutes of class time that were cut from high schools two years ago as well as place a school resource officer in each elementary school.
Those who supported the tax said it brought needed support to a district that has faced many cuts in the last years. Critics said the board’s ability to shave $1.8 million in expenses — something it did to prepare for the worst in case the tax failed — showed that the board was not in enough financial trouble to justify a new tax.
At Monday’s meeting, the only talk of the referendum came after board member Sue Dickinson suggested scheduling another budget workshop now that the tax has failed. But Valentine said she already had the information on cuts she needed to make, and therefore, another discussion was not needed.
After the meeting, board member Andy Dance said he hopes the School Board will focus more on community outreach and involvement in the future so that votes would be more informed about the issues. At a previous budget meeting, Dance suggested reforming a business advisory committee to audit the district’s internal managing program. He said again on Monday that he thought this would be a good idea.
“We would not only have an outside look at our internal operations, but we (also) would have more of the community invested,” Dance said. “I think we’re going to look to have more of that.”
Board member Colleen Conklin said on Facebook just after results were announced Friday night that the results were disappointing.
In comments on the Palm Coast Observer’s Facebook page, she asked readers if they had educated themselves about the issue before voting.
“Some act like this is the first time we are being asked to cut our budget,” she wrote. “We’ve cut $12 million from our operating budget in the last six years alone. … The voters have spoken. They have decided what kind of education they want to provide for their young citizens, and we will honor that.”
