Citizens launch campaign for extension of half-penny sales tax

By Sharon G. Berrian

Special to the Outlook

On June 21, the Leon Alliance for Better County Schools (Leon ABCs) campaign was launched to seek voter support for extending the half-penny sales tax for Leon County public schools.?

Leon ABCs is comprised of a diverse group of community, education and business leaders whose goal is to educate and encourage local voters to support the sales tax extension, which was originally approved by Leon County voters in 2002.

The 2002 voter-approved tax ends on Dec. 31. However, voters can choose to extend the sales tax for an additional 15 years when they go to the polls in November.

Leon ABCs chair Steve Uhlfelder, vice-chair Harriet Williams, Leon County Superintendent Jackie Pons, Griffin Middle School Principal Gwendolyn Lynn, local parents, students and half-penny tax advocates were in attendance to show their support during the June 21 kickoff at Griffin Middle School.

All of the event?s speakers emphasized the importance of continuing the tax to support a wide array of critical educational needs like the purchase of technology equipment and school renovation and improvement.

?The half-penny tax extension is vitally important for our school facilities to remain in safe condition, our students to learn with modern technology and our teachers to have the tools they need to do their jobs,? said Uhlfelder, a children?s advocate, mentor and former Leon County school parent-teacher organization president.

Uhlfelder noted that every single public school in Leon County received a share of the funds generated by the existing half-penny, meaning children across the county benefited from it.

His comments were underscored by Lynn who shared how receiving $2 million of current half-penny tax dollars has positively impacted her school?s educational program, leading to Griffin?s designation as an ?Information Technology Model School in the State of Florida.?

?Griffin exceeds the standard of educational technology integration across the curriculum, in part, due to the half-penny sales tax. Griffin has also received much needed enhancements to the physical plant, with 100 percent of our classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art intelligent classrooms and an almost one to one ratio of computer to student,? Lynn said.

Griffin is in its? third year as an information technology magnet school. Lynn said the school?s cutting edge programs would not have been possible had it not been for the investment Leon County citizens made by voting to approve the half-penny sales tax.

A strong proponent of extending the sales tax, Pons spoke about the tough fiscal times faced by the school system with the dramatic decline of both state and federal funds. He asked attendees to imagine what today?s schools would look like without the sales tax dollars.

He noted that improvements made with the help of current sales tax dollars include, among other things: the new Bond Elementary building; replacement of aging HVAC systems and roofing; and refurbished media centers and cafeterias. In addition, the tax has enabled elementary, middle and high school students to have on-campus access to computer equipment ? a critical learning tool in today?s world.

The Leon ABCs campaign is supported by findings from the Capital Improvements Review Team (CIRT), on behalf of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber and local business community.

CIRT, chaired by Tallahassee Community College President Jim Murdaugh, and comprised of parents and other citizen volunteers, found that Leon County schools are in need of numerous repairs and recommends the extension of the sales tax initiative to address these and other problems. The sales tax extension has also received a unanimous endorsement by the Greater Tallahassee Chamber?s Board of Directors.

The extension is projected to generate $265 million in more than 15 years. If approved, the extended sales tax will finance construction of new schools, several classroom wings, multi-use centers, gymnasiums, cutting-edge technology, energy efficient equipment to reduce electrical costs and transportation needs.

Sales taxes are levied on all taxable goods. The half-penny tax in Leon County generates one-half of one cent for every dollar in taxable goods. For example, an item with a $10 price tag raises an extra five cents for school improvements. Because Tallahassee is a popular destination for sports fans, government and tourists, approximately one of every $3 or one-third of the revenue raised is paid for by people who live outside of Leon County.

?The existing half-penny sales tax has been crucial to properly maintaining our schools, and it is critically important that it continues, so that our schools, and our children, don?t fall behind,? Williams said.

Griffin Middle School student Tabias Thomas was on site for the Leon ABCs launch and provided a testimonial of how he has personally seen the benefits of the half-penny tax program.

He said: ?I think it?s cool that parents and our community want to help our schools. Without it, we would not have the things we have in our classrooms. I am so happy to be in the magnet program at Griffin.??

?

For additional information on the campaign go to the Leon ABC?s website at www.leonabcs.com.

Source: http://capitaloutlook.com/wordpress/?p=8313

guy fieri ryan braun bryce harper may day dan savage new world trade center kellen moore