More money for schools? Palm Beach County school leaders weigh sales tax hike on 2024 ballot

Palm Beach County voters may be asked in 2024 to again raise the sales tax in order to fund construction projects at public schools.

State requirements for the school district to share money with charter schools and the increasing cost of construction has created a $600 million hole in its capital budget over the next 10 years.

That hit to the budget could affect new schools, such as the high school planned for the western communities in 2028 and elementary schools in The Acreage, Palm Beach Gardens and Westlake. The capital budget also covers renovation projects such as the $24.5 million in projects planned at Forest Hill, Jupiter, Atlantic and Boca Raton high schools in the coming years.

On Wednesday, school district finance staff pitched the idea of asking voters to approve a half-penny sales tax on the November 2024 ballot. The money raised also would go to school safety and security projects, upgrading computers, improving school choice programs, updating school buildings and buying new school buses, according to a presentation by district Chief Financial Officer Heather Frederick.