Seminole County approves putting the penny sales tax on the ballot

It’s official: Seminole County voters will be asked to renew a one-cent sales tax during the general election Nov. 5. 

The Seminole County Commission approved an agreement Tuesday on how to spend the money, if voters pass the tax renewal. That agreement, between Seminole County, the School Board of Seminole County and all seven cities, would give Seminole County half of the money, and Seminole County Public Schools would get 25%. The remaining 25% would be split up among the cities, with Oviedo getting 3.94% and Winter Springs getting 3.83%. 

If approved, the tax would bring in a projected $992 million over the next decade. 

The interlocal agreement was approved on Seminole County’s consent agenda, with no discussion from commissioners. No one from the public addressed the commission on the topic. 

“The reality is that penny is leveraged much greater than a penny,” said Seminole County Chairman Jay Zembower in March, saying the penny sales tax is used as matching money for federal and state grants.  

While county officials didn’t discuss the agreement at Tuesday’s meeting, the Winter Springs City Commissioners brought it up the day prior. One point of contention: The agreement now requires each city, the county and the school board to have their own auditors verify annually that the penny sales tax money was used appropriately. 

“Municipalities and [the] school board shall provide [the] county with the auditor’s opinion letter each year and [the] county shall publish the opinion letters, including its own, on its website,” the agreement reads. 

This comes after Winter Springs was audited over its use of the penny sales tax money by Seminole County Clerk of the Court Grant Maloy. Over the years, Winter Springs had changed priorities and used the penny sales tax money on items like police vehicles and fleet vehicles – items not included in Winter Springs’ original project list with the county. Winter Springs officials have called Maloy’s audit “unprofessional.”

“So if the Clerk of the Court came back and says we want to do it again, can they?” asked Winter Springs City Commissioner Rob Elliott. 

“Anybody can cross-check anybody,” interim Winter Springs City Manager Phil Hursh replied. “Everybody has to have open access to the record, that’s all it’s saying.”

Ultimately, Winter Springs unanimously approved the agreement.

Last week, Oviedo finalized its list of potential penny sales tax projects. And Winter Springs last month removed a controversial addition to its pickleball court complex from its list of planned projects, instead opting to put more money into stormwater. Seminole County Public Schools is expected to vote on the sales tax agreement at its meeting on June 18, held at 400 E. Lake Mary Blvd. in Sanford. Regular school board meetings are streamed on YouTube.

Check here to look at all the proposed projects for every city. The projects are not locked in permanently; governments can revise the project lists at public meetings in the future. 

Check our Voter Guide 2024