Say no to Broward schools proposed tax increase

Very soon, the Broward

County Commission will decide whether to approve a request by the Broward County School Board to increase ad valorem taxes on all residents to provide more money for schools. With inflation at a 40-year high, food prices extremely high, gas costing families more than $200 per month on average and rent costs forcing families into poverty, I cannot support this additional tax increase on Broward families.

I know what success on these issues looks like. As a former member of the leadership team under former Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, I also served as one of several faces of a successful

$1.2 billion bond referendum.

Compare that to the last time the Broward County School Board asked voters to support a bond deal — $800 million in 2014 to renovate crumbling schools. Today, we still see schools along the I-95 corridor left behind, local businesses left out and a facilities program still in shambles.

Today, there is no fiscal trust in Broward County Public Schools. Now is not the time to increase taxes on homeowners and taxpayers of Broward County.

As a product of Broward schools and a student advisor to the school board nearly 20 years ago, I have seen the ups and downs of school board members and school district leadership. Whether serving on the FAMU

Board of Trustees or other local boards, I have always been an independent voice and fiscal watchdog, willing to thoroughly scrutinize questionable spending or additional costs to families. From 2010 to 2015, I voted against tuition increases on families before it was the popular thing to do.

After nearly five months serving as a county commissioner, I am humbled to represent the residents of District 9 and all of Broward County advocating for issues that are important to our families. As a county commissioner appointed several months ago, I have rolled up my sleeves and worked hard on a series of issues.

I have proposed several common-sense items, including creating a new veteran business program and mentor protégé program, both of which received initial unanimous support from my colleagues. I anticipate many more items to come over the next several weeks. As the only Black and first millennial on the county commission, along with being a strong fiscal conservative, I have worked collegially with my colleagues and illustrated I’m not afraid to vote no when warranted.

Some will push the message of “letting the voters decide” on this tax increase, but we’ve been entrusted to prevent bad policy and negative impacts to families as one of nine voters on the county commission, and we should continue protecting our taxpayers from additional financial hardship.

I am the son of a retired social worker and deceased law enforcement officer. I come from a family of educators. And I was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fight for my community, do what’s right and protect taxpayers. It’s unfortunate the Broward County School Board has kicked this item to the county commission, but even more troubling, the school board has said little publicly to the community. More troubling still is the school board’s push to place this on the primary election ballot, with the lowest voter participation countywide, rather than in November, when voters will decide several high profile state and local races. With no public trust and costs soaring on all families, I urge my colleagues to join me and just say no.