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Board member warns state budget and universal vouchers could cut advanced programs in Pinellas
Summary
A school board member raised concerns that recent state policy expanding school vouchers and the state's multi‑year budget outlook could force cuts to advanced academic and career‑technical programs in Pinellas County, estimating a potential $10 million impact.
A member of the Pinellas County School Board used the April 22 meeting to urge public attention to the state budget outlook and recent changes to the state’s scholarship program, saying those factors could reduce funding for the district’s advanced academic and career‑technical programs.
The board member (name not specified in the meeting transcript) described forecasts from the Legislative Budget Commission showing a multi‑year state shortfall and attributed one pressure on the state budget to the expansion of the state Empowerment Scholarship program into a universal voucher system. The board member said the district could face about a $10 million loss to advanced academic and career‑technical programs if the Legislature follows through with proposed reductions.
The board member cited district budget documents presented at a recent workshop to compare historical and projected scholarship costs: “Five years ago Pinellas had just under 2,400 scholarship students for the McKay and Gardiner scholarships and it cost Pinellas County right about $20,000,000. Now in 25–26 we will have almost 17,000 students at a hundred and $60,000,000,” the speaker said.
The speaker also urged constituents to contact local legislators leading budget negotiations — Representative Lawrence McClure and Senator Ed Hooper — and suggested reinstating an income cap for scholarship eligibility or other fiscal limits to curb the growth of state scholarship expenditures.
The remarks were presented as a policy advisory by a board member, not as a board motion or formal directive. Board members did not vote on legislative strategy during the meeting; the comments were intended to inform the public and encourage civic engagement.
Ending: The board member left contact information for constituents who want to discuss the issue further; no board action was taken at the meeting to adopt a district position.
