[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5979229,"mediaKeyId","5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253","parentId",5775104,"title","Senator and local officials say charter and voucher growth strains public-school funding","audioSeconds",886,"startMs",3064000,"endMs",3950000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253&start=3064&end=3950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253/thumbnail_3064000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5979229/Florida/Senator-and-local-officials-say-charter-and-voucher-growth-strains-public-school-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979229-106556215560fb27d25aa932d3dee71a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138537&Signature=TyQQWFaSUkxoUNxby4NWHb08qrVsAfMc2EfbmT5Ic1NNu9I8H6F8CKsa~ik3NQ2W8hOVHEHOhcfEgYPcYJLrK~6AvtV7bjmYaUARgXH~6nAd~pZjPnio41Bs1f2YFm9jglz8rPTgq3Bp7z29xdIjFmMajX9bDD66jtNTApKpKAi9y90aZsDtRNVBWJO-lQd2G~CHSA5IDFPOWeqbYwkVpt1cD1JJQBrM-0cpmsr8jMU01RS5DWyvxVdBzYxwS8PfxjMysFBShVMebHYxO4fLmA-fHhRlYtQXJj~pIUGGUHFyfVo5lqVrW9xbc6C1HhDqp0cGrtzHDaDcPgMHVkilVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Opa-locka, FL","date","2025-09-18T11:28:40Z","article","At an Opelika listening session, State Senator Chevron Jones and local officials discussed declining public-school enrollment tied to charter schools, universal vouchers and homeschooling, and described the funding consequences for impacted schools.

Jones traced the trend to policy changes beginning in 2001 and the growth of private vouchers and universal-school-choice programs. \"If I could get $7,196 per child, get that into a block grant,\" Jones said, describing how per-pupil funding can follow a child to a private or charter setting. He said the state no longer enforces clear distribution rules for that funding and described instances where students leave a public school in the first weeks of the year, causing the public school to lose its funding allocation.

Local officials at the meeting said their district had already lost students: one commissioner said the county had lost about 13,000 students to private or charter schools in the first six weeks of a school year. Jones said he filed an amendment (to SB 508 as described in the meeting) to prorate funding when students leave midyear; he said the amendment failed in committee.

Why it matters: Jones and local officials argued that sudden enrollment declines reduce per-school budgets and, in some cases, force consolidation or closures when operating counts fall below thresholds. Jones also raised concerns about homeschooled children who may be isolated from mandatory protective oversight: \"We found out that there are individuals who are being homeschooled... in the same home that they are in where they're supposed to be learning, you have individuals who are in the home with their abusers, and they're not in school.\"

Supporting details: Jones said the Northeast has managed school choice and public-school funding concurrently, but he argued Florida’s distribution practices have weakened public-school finances. He urged local engagement and described prior committee activity on funding amendments.

What’s next: Jones said he will continue to push for legislative changes to how per-pupil funding is allocated and encouraged parents and officials to raise concerns with legislators before the next session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Opa-locka | Legislative Town Hall & Listening Tour | September 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Chevron Jones and local officials at the Opelika town hall described how charter schools, vouchers and homeschooling have reduced public-school enrollment and funding, and they urged legislative fixes such as prorated funding when students move midyear.","taxTitle","City of Opa-locka, Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",71258,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5979235,"Senator warns property-tax elimination could create $50–60 billion state funding gap",293,2048000,2341000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253&start=2048&end=2341","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253/thumbnail_2048000.jpg","/articles/5979235/Florida/Senator-warns-property-tax-elimination-could-create-5060-billion-state-funding-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979235-ce2484ce235ab9dee408e2b7da75e4b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138537&Signature=JYwhEhxz~DGWcTAxCTIOSsVJvgGwPLBjAWKoA755k~I9c6ql~1PB46ICJ2Y~UjFWeXUu4n2QuDiELbYC4oV~D~i99mpaf2K4XyfmuQ2cs6iQCO9PPp7UOx1zmaQ12vvVkpjYR991cvXrMXbfHoj~c1fZprwIS0kORzi18CiICFjxWRj28xHcqAWHiSywCydCpT4qjAPLmO0in1Fe0yhsMR20zhLcq-~EvnhMwzdHJGMMzQslJUnhgnXPxBMNnTAOxt83E6NCWFl5dOIPioWZu3SnMIkXJymMgsjqzE5gftXvrNE04TIuvNwLXG8vPkEnTJJtwC~wyKdY-I9u~aoynw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a public listening session in Opelika, State Senator Chevron Jones told residents that proposals to eliminate property taxes at the state level could create a $50 billion to $60 billion funding shortfall and that local governments would face significant disruption if a replacement revenue plan is not identified.

Jones said, \"If the state of Florida eliminates property taxes, there's a 50 to $60,000,000,000 gap that even the economists who think this is also a bad idea does not know where the state of Florida gonna fill that gap at.\" He warned that local services funded by property taxes—police, fire, schools, water and other municipal services—would be affected and urged residents not to be misled by campaign messaging that frames elimination as purely a cost-saving measure for households.

Why it matters: Jones described the proposal as a constitution-change resolution that would require voter action if it reaches the ballot. He said that, in the legislative process, such ideas typically start as resolutions in the chambers and that a replacement revenue plan has to be identified before implementation.

Supporting details: Jones referenced legislative skepticism from both parties, including a noted Republican senator who is asking replacement-revenue questions. He said the proposal could be advanced as a ballot resolution and that if passed it could shift the funding responsibility for core services to the state without a clear plan.

What’s next: Jones said residents should ask detailed questions about how essential services would be funded and that he hopes the resolution will not advance in committee. He encouraged constituent engagement before session so lawmakers hear community concerns.","Senator Chevron Jones told Opelika residents that a proposed statewide elimination of property taxes would create a $50–60 billion funding gap and urged caution, saying local governments would face major budget disruption without a clear replacement revenue plan.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5979241,"Senator outlines legal landscape on open carry and vaccine mandates ahead of session",635,879000,1514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253&start=879&end=1514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253/thumbnail_879000.jpg","/articles/5979241/Florida/Senator-outlines-legal-landscape-on-open-carry-and-vaccine-mandates-ahead-of-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979241-972736cb0f3f1ebedc4feebf066035c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138537&Signature=Hd7ba-MhUy5tIG3P2Yj1hJUNc~e7PSOFsG9pC~IplimevDxLQvifoW0ZdT~6h54VZ4C-I0IXgYB0zsad7Zk5GBUUsIsG3wtchSsuISCMpk94xVrNYGdunibz-sGbH4U7aiILwdKnp~ZMDAxqxeIUoIS4AjJedxT~T2LWAl49q14M3TNqhtWQDOeqkPs8LAtGizkXFUYQC~NcORVfJiRDB5oxCUs1WucqYP5bo-MtNfq6xfajaTWCtiwRNC0aVHjuxqgolM4ZgFAFBKA5PvBYcZo454Ajrr~z3AR6-DyHR1~Hks8iMWtPws5h8spTqsKBWkxqi5b7bC2V7nHXKN7A6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Senator Chevron Jones used a town-hall forum in Opelika to summarize recent legal developments and to tell residents the legislature must clarify rules on open carry and vaccine mandates.

On open carry, Jones said a court ruling has found the state's prior open-carry laws unconstitutional and that the attorney general issued prosecutorial guidance. \"The Supreme Court has ruled that our open carry laws that were on the books were deemed unconstitutional,\" Jones said. He added that while prosecutors have interim guidance, \"the regulatory aspect of it comes from who? It come from the legislature, and we're not in session right now,\" and therefore the Legislature will need to act when it convenes.

On vaccine mandates, Jones said enforcement or new requirements cannot be imposed by the attorney general alone and that legislative authority is required. He also noted existing statutory exemptions for parents: \"In law, already within statute, parents already have exemptions, religious and for personal reason.\" Jones said those statutory exemptions frame how statewide vaccine requirements would be implemented.

Why it matters: Jones framed both items as legal questions that have immediate operational effects for law enforcement and public health policy. He advised residents that changes or new regulations will be taken up during the legislative session, and he encouraged public engagement ahead of session.

Supporting details: Jones referenced statements from sheriffs' associations and the senate president expressing concern about open carry and said those law-enforcement voices complicate the debate. On the vaccines topic, Jones described mixed public messaging and referenced a recent report by a federal public health official (the transcript referenced the surgeon general) as contributing to confusion.

What’s next: Jones said the Legislature reconvenes in committee weeks (October pre-session) and session in January, and he invited constituents to bring proposals and questions to his office prior to session.","At an Opelika town hall, Senator Chevron Jones explained a recent court ruling on open carry created a prosecutorial rule and said the legislature must act to set regulatory standards; he also discussed limits on state authority over vaccine mandates.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":92,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":95,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5979245,"Senator says state vetoes left Opelika projects unfunded, urges constituent advocacy",704,1583000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775104-17fdb0c6b7dc7f776e07b488f735c253&start=879&end=1583","/articles/5979245/Florida/Senator-says-state-vetoes-left-Opelika-projects-unfunded-urges-constituent-advocacy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979245-ca557d76848e5ce351330cad1f684507/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138537&Signature=Dpmrv4Phb7YYa4wJDxVfQnHW8QNEPqEKlRN5RA8KEqpD1WIFEuRj7A1U300gV~tFwOnERVBBwLOlB9BAYmxzbASzZbkla8Jjcduedx7z4kWMP~HOqmk93t~5zHQcraDr27X8y4c5-aBbMXWQumcLJTy4ODchE50Dv2k880FeiLO0abfeVRCz8488NswWiE6oa4rMnuAlXMte3KZZQhmmfe-xobvuMRhJRh7DiVrORzy5WMw8b6xpeyRQwcWVhrPgLtHgKOwVQLUgu9~nPxlh31L9s~ad6tMDidDl~KTlF3bBtdOUj7B1inEr~6kyjWPivlDgTx1FPqPVEtcyyYl5-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Senator Chevron Jones told residents at an Opelika listening session that the recently passed $115,000,000,000 state budget included numerous vetoed local projects and urged constituents to press appropriations leaders to restore specific grants and appropriations.

Jones said the legislature approved the $115 billion budget and that projects Opelika submitted for appropriation were among those that did not receive funding. \"We put forth over $66,500,000 in projects that were not funded,\" Jones said, and he singled out an ERP (enterprise resource planning) government finance software request intended to help the city’s budgeting and financial operations as an example of a project that was approved in committee but ultimately vetoed. \"The very project that they told us that will help the city got vetoed,\" Jones said.

Why it matters: Jones framed the vetoes as concrete losses for local infrastructure and municipal capacity, and he recommended a constituent-driven approach to recovering funds. He advised residents to contact appropriations chairs and to request that the city include its legislative appropriation requests in materials shared with residents so citizens can advocate directly.

Supporting details: Jones described the budget context, saying last session’s $115 billion figure is higher than recent years partly because the state no longer has American Rescue Plan revenues to offset recurring needs. He characterized that change as raising questions about whether funding is divided equitably across jurisdictions. Jones also said Opelika had been placed on JLAC previously and that the city had provided documentation showing improved financial standing; he told residents the ERP system was specifically intended to address the very financial shortcomings that placed the city on that list.

Residents and local officials in the audience asked about next steps. Jones proposed constituent outreach to chairpersons on appropriations and said his office will pursue follow-up with staff. He said session activities begin with pre-session committee weeks in October (his office noted October 6 for a Tallahassee trip) and the formal session start date in January.

What’s next: Jones asked residents to provide feedback and to partner with his staff on outreach; he said both constituent contact and better-local-to-state coordination can improve the odds of securing future appropriations. He did not announce a formal re-filing or appropriation schedule at the meeting.","At a town-hall listening session, State Senator Chevron Jones told Opelika residents that a recent $115 billion state budget included many vetoed local projects and urged constituents to lobby appropriations chairs to restore funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senator and local officials say charter and voucher growth strains public-school funding

Senator warns property-tax elimination could create $50–60 billion state funding gap

Senator outlines legal landscape on open carry and vaccine mandates ahead of session

Senator says state vetoes left Opelika projects unfunded, urges constituent advocacy