City municipal school system to get share of district sales tax revenue
The city of Cape Coral soon will receive a share of a local option sales tax for school infrastructure for its municipal charter system.
Cape Coral City Council approved a resolution last Wednesday that will provide for, as of January, a distribution of a proportionate share of the 2018 Capital Outlay half cent sales surtax from the School District of Lee County for the Oasis Charter School System.
The city will waive its right to any potential litigation related to funds not received to date.
City Councilmember Bill Steinke was the lone dissenting vote.
School District of Lee County Superintendent Jacquelin Collins brought the sharing of the half-cent surtax before the city’s Charter School Authority Governing Board meeting Tuesday evening. She said the district will share its half cent surtax with the charter school starting in January 2026.
Collins explained that the funds will be subject to review and the surtax oversight committee will monitor and report on the surtax revenues.
“It’s advisory only. Expenditures do not have to be approved by the committee,” she said.
The “amendment specifies that surtax funds must be used solely for the acquisition, construction, renovation, equipping, and financing of school facilities, safety, and technologies.”
According to agenda documents, “starting in January 2026, the school board shall provide the charter school with its proportionate share of Capital Outlay Surtax Referendum funds.”
Assistant City Manager Mark Mason said there were no statutory requirements to include charter schools within the half cent sales tax in 2018.
“In 2021, we, the city, started to look at this – why aren’t we,” he said. “We sent them a letter and it’s always been on the back of our minds.”
Mason said Oasis Charter Schools are public schools with the public school system and they are a part of the Lee County School District.
In 2020, he said Florida legislature changed the law stating the half cent sales tax would have to be shared with charter schools.
Chair Kristifer Jackson said they will be paid going forward until 2028 when the referendum comes back up to the voters.
Collins said she already has plans in which they could use the half cent sales tax – expenditures they need to invest in the coming year.
She said she would like to reopen the conversation about OPENGATE, the metal detection system.
In addition, Collins wants to look into the holistic film on windows and doors for all schools, a $25,000 bill.
“We have been talking about this for quite a while,” she said.
The culinary remodel is another project, as they have only earmarked $500,000 for the project.
Another program Collins is collecting information on is the BusPatrol cameras that are attached to the sides of school buses to detect which cars are going through the stop signs when red lights are flashing. She said that would be a great program for them as they have 26 buses.
“These are things we need to keep in mind. It is early. After the first of year (we need to discuss) how we are going to invest in things I feel are important,” Collins said.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com