Florida TaxWatch Releases Quarterly Report for Broward SMART Program
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its review of the Broward County School District's SMART Program in its report Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools: SMART Program Quarterly Report Review for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2020. While the BOC meeting originally scheduled for today, Monday, December 14, 2020 has been canceled, the released report includes five recommendations which will be presented and discussed by FTW Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave at the next meeting of Broward County Bond Oversight Committee (BOC).
Florida TaxWatch Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave said, “The Broward County School District continues to make significant progress with the SMART Program, especially in the areas of technology enhancements and music, theater, and athletic facility upgrades. While the District should be proud of these achievements, Florida TaxWatch remains extremely concerned with the increasing number and length of project delays, as well as the heightened financial risk that has caused the SMART Program budget to grow by nearly $300 million over initial allocations. Looking forward, we hope that the recommendations made in this report and our ongoing work with the Bond Oversight Committee will yield improved returns on the SMART Program’s investment of taxpayer dollars.”
You can read the full report and see the rest of FTW's work with the Broward County Bond Oversight Committee here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for more than forty years and the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on citizens and businesses. Florida TaxWatch is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants, and does not accept government funding. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled Florida TaxWatch to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.