12,000+
Charter School Students in Manatee County
20%+
Percent of
Charter School Students in
Manatee County
$53m
2024-2025 Sales Tax Dollars Collected from Manatee County Citizens
$0
Sales Tax Dollars Provided to Charter schools serving these students
*
Florida Statutes, as of 2020, specifically require that revenues collected from your 1/2 penny sales tax “must be shared with eligible charter schools based on their proportionate share of the total school district enrollment." (FSS 212.055(6)b)
The Issue:
The School District of Manatee County is NOT giving Charter Schools
any share of
your sales tax dollars
Families who send their children to charter schools pay the same half-cent sales tax as everyone else in Manatee County, but their kids aren’t getting any of the benefits.
By current law, charter schools should receive a share of these funds—yet that isn’t happening. This is about basic fairness: over 20% of our students attend charter schools, and their families are essentially paying for improvements they never see. When you pay taxes for education, you should expect those dollars to benefit your child, no matter which public school they attend.
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The half-cent sales tax for Manatee County schools was first approved by voters in May 2002. This measure, often referred to as the “one-half cent discretionary sales surtax,” went into effect on January 1, 2003, and was set to run for 15 years—through December 31, 2017. Its purpose was to fund construction, upgrades, technology, and other capital improvements for public schools in the county. However, public Charter Schools received no funding from that funding source.
As the original sunset date approached, the Manatee County School District sought an extension and asked Charter Schools to support the renewal with assurances that the Charter Schools would receive funding from this tax. In November 2016, voters again approved the half-cent sales tax, allowing it to continue from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2032. Although the Charter Schools received some funding from 2018 to 2022, in 2023-2024, the District chose to terminate these funds to the 15 Charter Schools who instruct over 12,000 students.
Manatee County Schools and Sales Tax History
Florida State Statute Section 1002.33(5) states "It is the intent of the Legislature that Charter School students be considered as important as all other students in this state and, to that end, comparable funding levels from existing and future sources should be maintained for Charter School students."
Fundamental Fairness
This is more than a policy issue—it’s a fundamental matter of fairness for the many parents who believed their tax dollars would support every public school student equally, including those in Charter Schools.
Section 1002.33(17) requires that students in public charter schools “be funded as if they are in a basic program or a special program, the same as students enrolled in other public schools in the school district.”
Charter schools can use half-cent sales tax revenue to improve facilities, enhance safety, and create better learning environments for students. This includes: ​
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Building expansion: Reduce the need for portable classrooms and create a stable learning environment.
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Infrastructure renovations: Repair roofs, update plumbing and HVAC, and improve accessibility for students with disabilities.
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Technology upgrades: Enhance Wi-Fi infrastructure to support digital learning.
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Security enhancements: Upgrade surveillance systems and add controlled access points for a safer environment and more
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What can
Charters School
do with these funds?
What is the solution for Charter School families?
The current solution to this inequity is to ensure Charter Schools receive the half-cent sales tax revenue they were denied in 2024-25 and guarantee their fair share moving forward.
We urge the Manatee County School Board to​
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distribute the withheld 2024-25 funds to Charter Schools.
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ensure future budget allocations include Charter Schools in compliance with State law.
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enforce measures to prevent further discrepancies.
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By taking these steps, Charter Schools will receive the funding they are owed and secure their rightful share of sales tax revenues in the future.
What can Charter School families do?
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Sign our petition (click here)
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Email the Board Members (sample email script)
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Call the Board Members at (941) 708-8770 x41155​
Superintendent Wysong
District 1 - Heather Felton
District 2 - Cindy Spray (Vice-Chair)
District 3 - Charlie Kennedy
District 4 - Chad Choate (Chair)
District 5 - Richard Tatem
1 out of 5 parents in Manatee County
choose a Charter School!
Charter School students by Board Member
Supporting Fair Funding for All
This map highlights each Manatee County School Board district, showing both the board representative and the number of charter school students they serve. It illustrates how parental choice reaches across the entire county and reinforces why these students deserve their fair share of funding.
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