With the passing of the half cent sales surtax referendum, the school district must now form an oversight committee to report to the school board on the spending of the half cent sales tax dollars. At the October 5th workshop, school board members discussed how to structure such a committee.
Erik Van de Boogaard, Director of Facilities Operations, submitted a tentative structure to the school board for the half cent sales tax oversight committee or “Committee for Citizens Accountability of the Half Cent Sales Tax Monies.” It consisted of 5 community members and 2 non voting members of the school district. Van de Boogaard modeled the committee development after Pasco County’s half cent oversight committee. He stated that the goal of the committee is to provide information on how we spend the tax dollars according to the referendum.
The committee structure document submitted to the school board states, “The District is committed to being transparent and accountable to the residents of Hernando County for the use of the sales surtax proceeds. In a manner consistent with the Board-approved resolution prompting the request for a special election hereby forms the Citizen’s Accountability Committee for the purpose of developing reports for the School Board. The reports shall focus on project spending, progress and disseminating information regarding projects funded by the half-cent sales surtax to the general public.”
School board member Beth Naverud was concerned with equal representation from each of the five districts, since that was not mandated in the structure submitted to the School Board.
Erik Van de Boogaard explained that he left it open since it may not be possible to get a person from each district. Vice Chair Matt Foreman stated that there will be some financial disclosure for committee members which may discourage some people from applying.
Board member Mark Johnson suggested that people who decide to run for office should not be able to serve on the committee. He does not want someone to use the committee as a springboard for higher office.
Gregg Laskoski, who served on SOS Hernando, addressed the school board about his conversation with Ray Gadd, Deputy Superintendent of Pasco County Schools. Laskoski reported that Gadd strongly recommended including people on the committee that were opponents of the tax in order to avoid the perception of rubber stamping, create an open discourse and a healthy system of checks and balances. “I have to agree with that logic,” Laskoski stated.
Board member Susan Duval was a little reticent stating, “So if I opposed the half cent then I’d have an edge on getting on that committee as opposed to someone that supported?”
Laskoski replied, “Not necessarily an edge, I just don’t think it would be a disadvantage if you wanted to be included in that committee- there would be no bias one way or the other.”
“Logically I’m having a problem with that… Dr. Romano will be selecting the members,” stated Duval.
Rephrasing, Laskoski stated, “What Mr. Gadd was saying is that in the process, people who were opponents who have an interest in serving on the oversight committee should not be excluded simply because at a previous time were opponents of the half cent sales tax.”
“Stated that way it’s fine,” Board Member Duval concurred.
Dr. Romano stated that it is important to make sure the people on the committee aren’t trying to sway or do something inappropriate as well as to make sure there are people on the committee with a finance background or construction background.
It was also mentioned that alternates should be added from the original people who apply to avoid the process of finding applicants again.
Matt Foreman suggested they add an additional two community member positions to get a stronger cross section of the community especially since they would be looking for people with certain backgrounds. “It is a matter of public interest and Florida’s financial disclosure laws are broad and strong,” stated Foreman.
It’s also important to make it clear on the application documents what financial information must be disclosed. The four hour sunshine training may be necessary for committee members as well, since they most likely will be subject to sunshine law.
School board attorney Dennis Alfonso stated about sunshine law, “The function of that board is really accountability of the use of funds… It seems like it would be important for it [the committee] to be subject to sunshine because the whole point is you don’t want perception that this is happening in the shade or outside public view.”
Matt Foreman suggested, “Before we proceed any further we might want to have Mr. Alfonso do a little research as to how that committee should be set up. Partially because I don’t want to dissuade good people from serving on the committee because of financial disclosures… Maybe we hold off on the temporary approval until our next workshop. That way Mr. Alfonso can circulate a memo on structure, what’ll trigger form 1, what’ll trigger sunshine, how we can trigger sunshine without form 1.”
Form 1 refers to the financial disclosure form applicants would need to potentially complete in order to sit on the committee. It is understandable that many would be reticent about disclosing this type of information publicly. However, the financial disclosure process would be beneficial to prevent someone from sitting on the committee who could potentially profit financially from the actions of the committee.
The committee structure document states, “Committee members, and/or their company(ies) in which the members have a direct financial interest, shall not do business with the District during the members’ term, In accordance with § 112.313, Fla. Stat., and pertinent Opinions of the Florida Commission on Ethics.”
School Board member Mark Johnson added that since the committee will be in existence for 10 years, he would like to see term limits. “I would not want to see anybody serve the entire 10 years,” Johnson stated.
The committee structure will be examined again at the next School Board Workshop.
The oversight committee will be important to reassure the public that the money is being well spent. One of the arguments used against the half cent sales tax was that the school board might not spend the money wisely. A strong independent oversight committee could go a long way towards allaying those concerns. In the meeting it was pointed out that Pasco’s oversight board independence and transparency was important in Pasco’s push to renew the half cent sales tax.