TITUSVILLE, Fla. — On Election Day, Brevard County voters will be asked to make a choice that will directly impact local schools.
Voters will decide if they want to renew a half-cent sales surtax that’s already generated more than $200 million to meet critical needs of campuses around the district.
If voters say no, it will expire at the end of the year.
Watch: Brevard County early numbers outpacing 2016 election, officials say
The sales surtax would help the district cover millions of dollars in work at schools, including Titusville High School.
Officials said there are campuses around the district in need of roof repairs, electrical systems upgrades and other critical work that can’t wait.
Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Mullins made his case Monday for county voters to renew a half-cent sales surtax for another six years.
He said county residents should know it will be an investment in schools they won’t have to fund alone.
“Whether they live in Brevard County or not, they come to our county to enjoy our beaches, go to the space center, take in events, they contribute to Brevard Public Schools,” Mullins said.
When Brevard County voters first adopted a half-cent surtax for schools in 2014, it allowed the district to begin addressing millions of dollars on deferred maintenance and critical infrastructure needs.
“All those dollars have gone toward critical infrastructure needs. We’ve been able to put a dent in that backup of items that needed to be done,” Mullins said.
After generating $265 million, the surtax will expire at the end of the year if it isn’t renewed by voters.
That could mean some hard choices for the district.
Read: Election Day 2020: Deals and freebies available on Tuesday
“We’ll have to step back out technology refreshment, renewal plan, then we’ll be faced at having to look at operating dollars having to move them over to capital to meet these needs,” Mullins said.
Mullins said it is those operating dollars that fund the people, programs and services that directly affect students.
“If you walk into any of our schools and ask the principals, ask the staff, have you felt the impact of the surtax over the last six years, I’m confident our community would hear ‘yes,’” Mullins said.
The district has a list of completed projects on its website, along with those that will happen if the half-cent sales surtax is renewed.
More information on the Brevard County half-cent surtax can be found here.