• CCPS Referendum: Tax-Neutral Flexible Funding
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  • MYTH vs. TRUTH

    MYTH
    Collier School Proposal Takes $55 Million from School Building fund to help pay for $51.9 Million Pension Bonuses.


    TRUTH

      • Pension payments are ONLY made by the Florida Retirement System (FRS).
      • Collier County Public Schools DOES NOT manage FRS retirement funds, nor does Collier County Public Schools make any pension bonus payments to employees.
      • The tax-neutral referendum DOES NOT pay for $51.9 million in pension bonuses to employees.


    Funds from the Tax-Neutral Referendum may only be used to pay for Operational expenses such as staffing, academic and extra-curricular programs, and utilities. The Referendum is tax-neutral and DOES NOT impose any additional taxes.

    Click here for additional information about the FRS Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP).

     

  • IF APPROVED, HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD INCREASE IN OPERATING AND DECREASE IN CAPITAL?

    The referendum allows the School Board to vote for up to .35 mills to be moved from capital to operating. Each year, the Board would vote on how much to increase operating funds and decrease capital funds. It would be a maximum of .35 mills, but could be less.


    If the Board chooses to shift the full .35 mills each year, it could mean an additional $266 million in operating over four (4) years to support teachers and programs for our students.


    FISCAL YEAR SCHOOL TAXABLE VALUE REFERENDUM AMOUNT
    (decreased from capital and increased in operating)    		 PERCENTAGE OF MILLAGE
    2025-2026 $180,860,900,000 $60,769,262 0.35
    2026-2027 $191,053,800,000 $64,194,077 0.35
    2027-2028 $204,048,,100,000 $68,560,162 0.35
    2028-2029 $215,911,900,000 $72,546,398 0.35

     

     

  • IF APPROVED, DOES THIS IMPACT THE TAX RATE THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTES ON?

    No, this tax-neutral referendum only provides flexibility regarding where the funds come from and how they are spent. It DOES NOT decide that the tax rate is.