Committee formed to monitor school sales tax spending

File photo: Attorney Jeremy Powers [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

An oversight committee made up of Marion County Public Schools parents and stakeholders has been formed to keep watch over how revenue from the district’s half-cent sales tax is being spent.

The School Capital Outlay Surtax Oversight Committee held its first meeting on May 6 and will meet once a quarter going forward.

The sales tax increase was approved by Marion County voters in the November 2024 general election and went into effect in January. The revenue may be used to fund school facility construction and other capital projects.

Based on projections from the Florida Department of Revenue, a half-cent sales tax was expected to generate about $40 million in revenue over the course of the year. Since MCPS’ sales tax went into effect in January, by now the district had hoped to generate about $20 million by the halfway point of the year—but so far it has only collected $2.4 million.

“The oversight committee shall be made up of no less than 12 members each of whom will be appointed,” said MCPS attorney Jeremy Powers. “No member of the oversight committee may be an employee of Marion County Public Schools nor may any member be in a position of personally profiting from the actions of the committee. Finally, it’s preferred that each member have experience in financial management, construction or another relevant field.”

Each school board member made initial appointments of two members. Members so far include Christopher Luetgert, Lynn Racioppi, Tom Pageviks, Matt Fabian, Jim Walkup, Kyle Yancey, Wally Wagoner, Brandon Owen, Howard Gun, Stephen O’Leary and Jamie Zublick.

Fabian was appointed as the committee chair, Wagoner as the vice chair and Zublick as the secretary.

Upcoming meetings are scheduled for July 9, Sept. 24 and Dec. 3, at School Board Meeting Room, located at 1614 E Fort King St. The meetings will begin at 4 p.m. and are open to the public.