Board briefed on sales surtax and millage renewal; staff proposes extended term and broader uses

Brevard Public Schools staff told the board on Aug. 12 they plan to seek renewal of the district sales surtax and operating millage that expire in November 2026 and recommended considering a longer surtax term and expanded permitted uses to provide more flexibility for facility replacement and new construction.

“From our perspective, having a stable revenue source for a longer period of time allows us to do more programming and be more forward thinking and to pick up projects farther down the line,” Sue Han, facilities staff member, said. “We’re recommending consideration somewhere in the 10 to 15 year period.”

Han summarized the current parameters: the district’s sales surtax revenue is currently allocated 70% to facility renewal, 15% to technology and 15% to security; the surtax proceeds are proportionally shared with charter schools under state statute. She told the board the sales surtax is collected monthly, while millage is primarily received as a one‑time infusion each December, and staff will design renewal proposals with conservative revenue estimates to avoid over‑programming projects.

On scope, Han said staff would like the authorizing resolution to allow surtax revenue to be used for replacement school facilities, new school facilities and ancillary facilities such as turf fields, school pavilions and auditoriums — all actions the presenter said are allowed under the Florida statute that governs discretionary sales surtaxes. She also reiterated a recommendation to retain the existing 70/15/15 distribution while expanding permissible uses.

Timeline and administrative steps were explained. Staff said it would like to present board resolutions at the Sept. 9 meeting that would set term and broad use parameters and then transmit the resolutions to the county in October. Han noted that because the district would be changing the surtax scope, a performance audit by OPPAGA (the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability) or similar review must be factored into the schedule; the statutes require certain audit and posting steps and a minimum notice window before placement on a ballot. Staff also noted the district’s independent auditor, RSM, will include the sales surtax and the millage in the next audit cycle.

Board members generally expressed support for renewal and for an extended term, but several stressed the importance of polling and strong community engagement before finalizing term length. Miss Campbell urged caution on relying on slow‑growing impact fees for some projects and asked staff to confirm legal timetables for using impact‑fee revenue. Mister Gibbs recommended a public polling effort to test voter sentiment on term length and scope before the board finalizes language.

Han described planned community engagement and oversight steps: staff will work with the citizens oversight committee, conduct outreach to school administrators and community groups, produce a detailed project program (the presentation referenced the district’s prior surtax plan book used to show project timing and detail) and post the performance audit online. Staff said it will keep initial revenue estimates conservative and program building systems and critical renewals first, then classroom and outdoor assets in later years if revenues permit.

Discussion vs. direction vs. formal action: the Aug. 12 session was informational. Staff requested board feedback on term and scope so it could draft a resolution for board consideration in September; no final ballot question or binding resolution was adopted that day.

Clarifying details captured in the meeting included: the district currently estimates annual net sales surtax receipts to the district (post‑charter share) of roughly $60,000,000; staff proposed retaining a 70% facility/15% technology/15% security split; staff suggested a possible 10–15 year surtax term; statutory and audit timing requires staff to finalize resolutions and transmit to the county in time to allow required performance audits and ballot deadlines.