SARASOTA COUNTY - Today is Election Day in Sarasota County. Polls are open for voters to decide whether to continue the one mil property tax for schools.
If it passes it will bring in 40 to 50 million dollars a year for Sarasota County schools for the next four years.
This is the 3rd time Sarasota voters have voted on this tax. It was first voted it in in 2002, and then approved for four more years in 2006. Both times it passed pretty easily. But in these tough economic times, it's not such a shoe in.
A group called Citizens For Better Schools has been formed to get the tax through. They're leaving no stone unturned as they work to get residents to vote yes Tuesday.
Phones are ringing all over Sarasota County Monday as determined volunteers for the group form a massive phone bank. They're making hundreds of calls asking voters to get out and vote yes on the school tax. "It's for programs like music and arts and science. I didn't know science was an elective, but it was in our elementary school. And it's for charter schools; we have provided about 15% of the charter school budgets," says Jane Goodwin, chair for Citizens For Better Schools.
They're focusing first on asking Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce members to vote yes. They say these business people have a vested interest in continuing the high quality of education. "Chamber members take a long view of what creates a livable city, and our mantra ‘good life, good business' is all about quality schools and quality of life. We take the view that a high-quality school district will certainly bring in a higher quality work force," says Pam Truitt, former chamber Of Commerce chair.
Rich Swier, leading the fight against continuing the tax, says in these tough economic times taxpayers need a break. Schools need to tighten their belts like everyone else and get by on less. He says it won't hurt education. "There is no connection between how much money in a district salary schedule, and whether or not a child learns or not learns. We know that for sure."
Swier says so what if teachers have to take a pay cut if the tax is not continued. He says to any teacher that is driven away: good riddance. "If there's any teacher who believes that if they get a pay cut like everyone else in the economy is taking a pay cut, and they're not going to teach our kids, we need to get rid of that teacher."
But Citizens For Better Schools says it won't be teacher's salaries, it'll be teacher's jobs that are cut. They say as many as 500 teaching positions could be eliminated. And with 55 schools in the county, that could be a big impact.
The tax, Sarasota County homeowners are already paying, costs the average homeowner about $150 dollars.
9,000 voters have already cast their ballots early, and the Supervisor of Elections is forecasting a larger than usual turnout. "Cathy Dent has forecast a turnout of 30-35%. Back in 2006 when we had this issue on the ballot, we had an overall 25% turnout, so she is looking for it to be a little bit higher this time," says Cathy Fowler, Supervisor of Elections Administrative Assistant.
The polls are open Tuesday morning from 7am to 7pm. Be sure you take a picture ID with your signature on it when you go to vote.
