Secure the Next Generation Referendum Renewal

  • Secure the Next Generation

    Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is presenting voters with a referendum renewal that will appear on the August 23, 2022, primary election ballot.

    The new Secure the Next Generation Referendum would increase voters’ investment in education from a half-mill to one mill to continue securing funds for all public schools – and will now also include charter schools – to:

    • Recruit and retain high-quality teachers and eligible staff by increasing compensation supplements
    • Maintain and enhance school resource officers and school safety staff
    • Maintain and enhance essential programs, such as mental health services

    Why does BCPS need to renew the referendum and increase to 1 mill?

    The funds from the ½ mill referendum that voters approved in 2018 are set to expire. Those funds support over 500 school safety personnel, 100 mental health professionals, and approximately $82 million in salary supplements for teachers and eligible staff, to compete with neighboring school districts.

    On April 26, 2022, the School Board approved to, once again, present this referendum on the August 23, 2022, primary election ballot, with an increase to one mill, for voters to consider investing in Broward County Public Schools.

    This renewal would provide BCPS with the ability to compete with neighboring school districts (Miami Dade County Public Schools, presenting an increase from the current .75 mill to one mill, and the School District of Palm Beach County Public Schools is currently at one mill), and to account for new legislation that now requires the District to share nearly 20% of these funds with charter schools.



    If the current Secure The Next Generation Referendum is not renewed, funding for the following items will no longer exist.

     

    TEACHERS

    Recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff by increasing compensation

     

    SAFETY

    Maintain and enhance school resource officers and school safety staff

    ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS

    Maintain and enhance essential programs, such as mental health services

     

Referendum Videos

    VOTING INFORMATION

    Expand All

    • What is a mill or millage rate?

      The mill or millage rate is the amount of property value used to calculate local property taxes. One mill would provide $100 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.

    • Ballot Language

      Shall The School Board of Broward County levy an ad valorem property tax of one mill annually for fiscal years July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027, to provide funding for (i) school resource officers, safety staff and mental health professionals, (ii) increasing compensation to recruit and retain teachers and staff and (iii) essential instruction related expenditures to preserve important programs, for the benefit of all traditional public and charter schools?

      _____Yes or _____No
       

    • What is the Difference Between the Secure the Next Generation Referendum Renewal and the SMART Bond?

      The Secure the Next Generation Referendum is not related to the SMART Bond. SMART Bond funds strictly provide funding for critical maintenance needs and capital improvements to buildings. The SMART Bond funds cannot be used for compensation or noncapital expenses. To learn more, visit bcpssmartfutures.com.

    • Intended Allocation

      The School Board voted to allocate funds for the following:

      • 75 percent – increase compensation to recruit and retain teachers
      • 17 percent – provide funding for school resource officers and school safety staff
      •   8 percent – preserve important programs, such as mental health programs and personnel

      All compensation will be subject to collective bargaining. The public will have an opportunity to comment on dispersal of funds generated prior to distribution. These funds will not be available until 2023/24.

    • Homeowner Cost

      • The average homeowner with a home market value of $478,430 for 2022 and a School Board taxable value of $310,349 would invest approximately $310 that year or $26 per month, which is an additional $13 more than their current investment.*

      • The average condo owner with a condo market value of $224,131 for 2022 and a School Board taxable value of approximately $181,101 would invest approximately $181 that year or $15 per month, which is an additional $7.50 more than their current investment.*

      • If the referendum passes, and based on current property values, it would generate $214 million for BCPS and $53 million for charter schools annually, a total of approximately $267 million in fiscal year 2024. The referendum will expire in four years.

      *A homeowner’s/condo owner’s investment varies based on their School Board taxable value and is subject to change annually.

      Last revised on July 14, 2022

    • Informational Materials

      Executive Summary

      School Board Resolution

      Informational One-Pager

      Champion Toolkit

    • What Does the Current Referendum Fund?

      72% of collected referendum funds (in 2022, that is approximately $82 million) in supplements with the following breakdown:

      • Security

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $380 – $2,000

      Average $542

      • Teachers

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $1,425 – $13,500

      Average $4,653

      • Paraprofessionals

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $560 – $2,600

      Average $1,133

      • Food Service Workers

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $140 – $1,200

      Average $413

      • Maintenance

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $570 – $980

      Average $778

      • Transportation

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $350 – $1,055

      Average $490

      • Facilities

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $248 – $1,390

      Average $722

      • TSP (Technical Support Professional)

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $870 – $3,400

      Average $2,112

      •  COPA (clerical)

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $245 – $1,160

      Average $630

      • Clerical

      Minimum to maximum annual amount $660 – $1,200

      Average $968

      20% of collected referendum funds ($21million) in safety and security with approximately 540 positions, including the following:

      • Armed school safety officers - 29
      • Building Security – 4
      • Campus Monitors – 388
      • Clerical Support – 14
      • Human Resources – 3
      • Lead Building Security – 1
      • Manager, Area Security – 9
      • Manager, Campus Security – 8
      • Security Specialists – 82

      *Includes payroll processors and technical service specialists

      8% of collected referendum funds ($9 million) in Mental Health with approximately 100 positions, including the following:

      • Family Counselors (ESE) – 10
      • Guidance Counselors (Elementary)– 28
      • Guidance Directors (High)– 2
      • School Nurse – 2
      • School Psychologist – 20
      • School Social Worker – 17
      • Teachers – 7*
      • Therapists (Family Counseling Program) - 12

      *Includes hospital homebound and suicide prevention teachers

      Click here to view the Fiscal year 2022 referendum positions and sites serviced.

    • SMART Update

      While the SMART program experienced some unforeseen implementation delays at the onset, the District has taken measures to get the program back on track, which included hiring a new Program Manager a year and a half ago. Since then, the program has since made notable strides towards a completion date by end of year 2025. Today, there are over 60 completed projects, 180 projects that are actively under construction, and an additional 50+ that will begin construction. To learn more, visit https://bcpssmartfutures.com/.

    • Audit Approval

      The District engaged S. Davis & Associates, P.A. to audit the current, and soon to expire, Secure the Next Generation Referendum. The audit noted that the District expended Secure the Next Generation funds as approved by voters on the August 28, 2018, referendum ballot.

    • Additional Information

      For more information or to schedule the Superintendent or her designee to speak to your group, please contact the Legislative Affairs office at 754-321-2608 

    Teacher Pay

    • Teacher sitting in classroom smiling, students in the background

      Due to several years of insufficient funding by the State, teacher pay is not competitive for a college-educated professional and does not allow teachers to earn a decent livelihood in Broward County compared to other areas.

    Senate Bill 7026

    • Capitol Building Image

      The State of Florida as part of Senate Bill 7026 requires every school to have a school safety officer, but does not provide full funding to meet the mandate. This prompted Broward County Public Schools, and districts statewide, to find funding elsewhere.

    Millage Rate

    • Millage Picture

      What is a mill or millage rate? The mill or millage rate is the amount of property value used to calculate local property taxes. One mill would provide $100 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.