Orange County voters are expected to vote again next year on a half-cent sales tax that would go toward the continuation of the district’s school building program.
At a School Board meeting Tuesday, board members unanimously agreed that the building program, funded currently from a half-cent sales tax and due to end in November 2015, should be pursued.
In November 2003, voters of Orange County supported the half-cent sales tax which has gone toward replacing and renovating 97 schools. However, 39 schools identified at the time, are yet to be completed and sales tax receipt projections are not expected to generate enough funding for these projects, the district said.
In addition, 20 schools not on the original list of 136 are in need of renovation over the next decade. The district also said, funding is needed for technology upgrades to deliver digital curriculum, as well as security enhancements to ensure student safety.
Some of the 39 schools still to be renovated include, Oak Hill ES, Pine Hill ES, Pine Castle ES, Magnolia School, Hungerford ES, Silver Star Center and Clarcona ES.
A spokesperson for Orange County Public Schools said, the half-cent sales tax would be placed on the August primary election ballot in 2014 or November, later that year.
