Important headlines for May 4th - When a 27% revenue increase means you're cash strapped
Bottom Line: These are stories you shouldn't miss and my takes on them...
Palm Beach County schools to consider new property tax - Sun Sentinel
Excerpt: Desperate for money after years of neglect by the state Legislature, Palm Beach County schools may ask voters in November to approve a new tax to boost teacher salaries and supplement school security and mental health care.
The School Board will decide on June 20 whether to put the tax on the ballot.
Although the amount of the tax hasn’t been decided, the board on Wednesday discussed adding $1 for every $1,000 in taxable value, or $400 a year for the owner of a $400,000 house. Voters approved a one-cent sales tax in November 2016 that helps pay for new roofs, air conditioning, paving and other infrastructure projects. And in 2014, they passed a property tax that pays the salaries of 650 art, music, physical education, career and technical teachers. That tax expires this year and would become part of the proposed new levy.
Hot Take: First, is it asking too much for the Sentinel to at least attempt to pretend to be objective journalists? Desperate for money after years of neglect by the state Legislature - Is the writer of this article actually on the payroll? Question for you... Are you making 27.3% more than you were three years ago? Are you making 19% more than last year? Well guess who is... The Palm Beach County School District. Here are the facts that you need to know. Here's the total revenue to the Palm Beach County School District over the past three years:
2015-2016: $2,305,685,044
2016-2017: $2,457,491,980 (6.6% increase)
2017-2018: $2,934,318,538 (19.4% increase)
So, after a 6.6% increase in 2016-2017 due to rising taxes due to rising property taxes, an improving economy, along with increases from the state – revenue really exploded with the infusion from the marketing scam known as the "penny sales tax". Half of that 16.7% sales tax increase goes to the Palm Beach County School District and the result, along with the still rising property tax assessments and improving economy, was another 19.4% increase in the current school year...for a grand total 27.3% increase in just three years! It's reprehensible to take in 27% more money from taxpayers in just three years, cry poor and demand additional tax increases. Especially when those increased taxes would once again come from the roof over your head. Please inform yourself and others. It's clear that the school district is intent on continuing to take advantage of our collective ignorance if we remain ignorant.