Florida’s districts can ask voters to help fund schools through a local referendum. Charters in Indian River want a share. Five charters: Indian River Charter High School, Inc., Imagine Schools at South Vero, North County Charter School, Inc., Sebastian Charter Junior High, Inc., and St. Peter’s Academy, Inc., have filed a lawsuit. In 2012, voters approved a .6 mills increase in property taxes to fund their local public schools. Charters backed the referendum and want a pro-rata share.
Most districts do not and are not required to share funding from a local referendum with charters. Nevertheless, the competition for money goes on. The case was assigned to Administrative Law Judge Cathy M. Sellers.