The Pasco School Oversight Committee has determined that Pasco County Schools is properly spending taxes generated by voter-approved Penny for Pasco tax proceeds.
The oversight committee’s charter mandates it “to provide general, financial, design, and construction oversight to the School Board’s capital outlay, maintenance and construction projects involving Penny for Pasco revenues.”
It also is required to issue an annual report, which it did on Feb. 1.
That report says, “the School Board and Citizens of Pasco County can be assured that the funds generated are being used for the express purposes as outlined in the referendum authorizing the implementation of the additional penny sales tax.”
The oversight committee also noted that: “In this, the eighth year of the second cycle, (Penny for Pasco tax) revenue remains good despite all the challenges presented by our ongoing battle with COVID 19. Current collections, as of January 2022, are almost 23% above calculated projections.”
The committee also reported “that real progress is being made with several Penny projects. Hudson High School is on track to complete its renovation by 2023. Plans for the renovation of Gulf High School are on track with construction commencing in the summer of 2022.”
The committee resumed in-person meetings in 2021.
The report highlights a collaborative project between the school system and Pasco County on the Starkey Ranch K8 and Pasco County TLC (Theatre, Library, Cultural Center) project where the combined resources of the school system and county provided “a more effective use” of tax dollars.
“We realize utilization of a combination of resources can be complicated, but they give our taxpayers a better return on their investment,” the committee said.
Published February 09, 2022
