Florida TaxWatch Releases Quarterly Report for Broward SMART Program

Tallahassee, Fla. –  Today, Florida TaxWatch 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 December 31, 2020. The report will be presented by Florida TaxWatch’s Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave at the quarterly Broward County Bond Oversight Committee meeting on Mon., March 8 at 5:30 p.m. (EST). Topics of discussion will include budget activity, supplier diversity and outreach, and communications, among others.

Florida TaxWatch Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave said, “Now halfway through its seventh year, the Broward County School District’s SMART Program has fulfilled many elements (e.g. music, arts, and athletic facilities) of its intended purpose of providing students with ample resources and establishing top-tier learning environments. There is also new focus, with the appointment of AECOM as the Project Manager/Owner’s Representative. It is a good time to reset taxpayers’ expectations as the schedule delays and construction challenges that threaten to dampen the progress already made are reassessed. While the current challenges will cost Broward taxpayers millions of dollars more than they originally approved, Florida TaxWatch is hopeful that the Bond Oversight Committee will rely on our recommendations to strategically navigate setbacks and ensure a meaningful return on investment.” 

You can read the full report and see the rest of Florida TaxWatch’s work with the Bond Oversight Committee here.