- March 9, 2025
After several weeks of discussion by local officials, the decision about a potential new school tax is now in the hands of area voters.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners approved on Monday a request from the Flagler County School Board to hold a special election to consider a 0.5 millage levy that would replace a 0.25 mill already in place, which is set to expire June 30.
If passed, the new tax would take effect July 1 and would be used to fund increased security in schools and to reinstate 45 minutes of instructional time cut from middle and high schools two years ago. The tax would remain in place until June 2017.
Although the County Commission had some questions about the School Board’s proposal, as well as about its budget, commissioners agreed that it was not their place to make a decision about the tax; that authority falls to the voters, they said.
“I suggest that you put your faith in the people who have children in the school system,” said Commissioner George Hanns before vote.
“I have complete faith in this community,” said School Board member Colleen Conklin, who gave a presentation about the proposed tax that evening. “This community cares about its children.”
The County Commission approved the election unanimously, but still offered criticisms of the proposed tax.
“Here’s the problem,” said Commissioner Frank Meeker. “You’re using a nonrecurring funding source for your operating expenses, when usually you would do that to fund capital projects. … What will you do in four years when that money is gone?”
Kristy Gavin, the school district’s attorney, said in response that the tax would keep money in the hands of local policymakers instead of putting it in state hands. She also said district staff would continue to look for grants and other funds.
“That’s still a nonrecurring funding source,” Meeker said.
Supervisor of Elections Kimberle Weeks also spoke at the meeting, telling commissioners that she did not have adequate time to prepare for the election, which the School Board suggested for June 7. She suggested a mail-only election, and said holding early voting would be a waste of resources because special elections historically have low turnout even when they are advertised farther in advance than this one would be.
Weeks said she was not required by law to offer early voting, but Commissioner Barbara Revels said she thought that would be important to raising voter turnout. School officials also said they hoped for early voting options.
Weeks also said she had been spending time negotiating poll locations, which took additional time, and critiqued the proposed June 7 election date, a Friday, because it would require her staff to work late that night and to return equipment from polling locations Saturday. She said she wanted to mention those problems in case her budget were called into question.
Commissioners said they would support Weeks with her election efforts, recognizing that she would have less time than usual to prepare.
“I don’t think it’s my role as a commissioner to second-guess the decision of the School Board,” said Commissioner Charles Ericksen moments before the election was approved. “It’s my role as a county commissioner to help to get this in front of the voters.”
