Broward County (Florida) district provides referendum funds to charter schools
The Broward County (Florida) district has made an initial payment of nearly $32 million to charter schools after state officials determined that it did not properly share tax revenues.
CBS News Miami reports that the payments are tied to a 2018 voter-approved referendum that raised property taxes for increased teacher pay and improved school safety.
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. informed the Broward County district earlier this year that an investigation was being launched into whether the school board was sharing revenue properly with charter schools in the county.
The dispute arose after Broward provided about $4.6 million in proceeds from the 2018 referendum to charter schools. Charter schools sued the district, arguing that they should have received $90 million, based on charter school enrollment, which is about 20% of all public students in Broward County.
The law in 2018 didn't specifically address the issue of whether districts must share referendum money with charter schools. But the law was changed in 2019 to require sharing.
Andrew King, general counsel for the state Department of Education, says the Broward district has agreed to a three-year payment plan.
The district made the first payment on July 10, according to King. Additional payments will occur in July 2025 and 2026, with an overall total of about $108 million.
