Manatee County School Board sales tax link to impact fees should be dropped

Who is punishing the children when the Manatee County School Board attached a 50 percent caveat to the district's impact fees?

The mandated study recommended the maximum fees. Superintendent Diana Greene recommended the board reinstate fees over a three-year period. Fifty percent the first year, 75 percent the second year and 100 percent the third year.

The board then added the caveat limiting the fees to 50 percent if we citizens vote to renew the sales tax.

Mr. Bob Gause stated they did this to obtain the support of our two biggest developers. This would take away $3.3 million from our children's need the second year and $6.6 million every year thereafter the sales tax is in.

If you look at the next five years, the total amount of revenue given away is $23.1 million.

"Growth pays for growth" has been reiterated many times by board members, who still gave away all those millions. Based on statements by board members Bob Gause and Charlie Kennedy, only Norm Nelson is punishing the children by questioning the board's caveat. The board's taking away a minimum of $23.1 million from the needs of our children doesn't count under their rules.

This caveat needs to be removed by our school board before any vote on sales tax renewal. Contact your school board members now and ask them to remove this caveat now. When they passed this caveat, were they looking after our children and our schools or just special interest groups at a minimum cost of $23.1 million in lost revenue?

Norman Nelson

Bradenton

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County School Board sales tax link to impact fees should be dropped ."