Dear parents and community members,

We need your help! We need you to read, listen, question and understand what the Flagler County School District is getting ready to face during the next school year. Education is a vital part of our community and it is being threatened by the downturn in our economy. We are facing a 7.4 million dollar reduction in our annual budget for the 2011-2012 school year.

In August, 2010, the School Board voted to place on the November 2^nd ballot the continuation of the 0.25 Critical Needs Millage. This will place a referendum on the ballot for voters in Flagler County to decide if they will authorize the School Board to continue to levy the 0.25 millage for the next two years. The millage is not a new tax; it is a continuation of a tax levy that has been in place since 2008 as part of local efforts to fund Flagler County Schools. If the voters approve the referendum, the .25 mill will only be in effect for two years. This tax equates to $25.00 a year on a $150,000 homesteaded home, the average home price in Flagler County.

The 0.25 mill funding has enabled the District to recruit and retain high-quality teachers, maintain award-winning academic and arts programs and enhance other services that have helped improve student achievement.

The District has continued to make budget cuts over the past three years. Cuts have included eliminating after-school transportation, tutoring, cell phones, travel, middle grade sports, clubs, field trips, maintenance, supplements for extra duties such as department chair; invoking the 2-mile rule for student transportation for the middle and high schools; reducing maintenance and custodial staff; and reducing other personnel through a hiring freeze. The District also took steps to consolidate the construction and maintenance departments this year as a result of the downturn in population growth, resulting in less construction. The entire School District, including each student, has been doing all we can to reduce costs. We have reduced our electrical consumption and, as a result, have lowered the bill by more than $100,000 during the 2009-10 school year. Over the past two years, economic conditions have forced the District to reduce its annual operating budget by more than $10,141,835 and to eliminate administrative and other staff positions. This referendum revenue will provide the School Board a critical buffer against even deeper cuts.

Even if the voters agree to continue the 0.25 millage, the District will still face budget cuts next year because of reduced property values in the County and continuing shortfalls in State revenue. If the millage is not continued, the District will lose a projected $2.1 million next year. 

This is an important time to make your vote count!