A SMART IDEA

When the idea of a sales tax was floated last year, I wrote that the proceeds should be used to bond the money needed to build the two new schools and pay off Anderson Middle School. In that way, not only could I support the real estate millage increase for teacher and other employee compensation but the ½-cent sales tax for capital improvements. Since the bonding was not promised, I did not support the sales tax increase.

At the last meeting, the School Board approved using $61 million dollars of the sales tax’s projected $112 million to bond the new Jensen Beach and Palm City Elementary Schools. This means that construction can be completed by the 2020/2021 fiscal year. It also allows other sales tax money to be spent on approved projects without waiting for all the funds to be accumulated for school construction.

The borrowing would be paid off by the end of the sales tax referendum period in 2025. It is fiscally the smart way to proceed. I only wish they had promised this last year so I could have supported the sales tax.

 To Get Your Free Copy Send email address to Tom@tomcampenniforstuart@gmail.com