DCPS votes 5-1 to seek outside legal help for half-cent sales tax referendum

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Duval County School Board is moving forward with a push to get outside legal help— as it fights to create a half-cent sales tax to fix aging schools.

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Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole explains the next steps and the major issues standing in their way.

On Wednesday, Lori Hershey, the chairwoman of the School Board, told Cole she’s meeting with the city's top legal officer--to ask for outside legal help.

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Hershey said even if it’s not approved, they still plan to at least talk with an outside group.

The problem is, according to a legal memorandum from the Office of General Counsel, they can't do that.

"It's been well over 60 days with conversation and meetings and we haven't moved forward,” said Hershey.

That's why Hershey felt the time was right for Tuesday’s emergency discussion.

"In this stage in the game, we are looking for a resolution and definite date to have this item on the ballot,” Hershey told  Cole.

The school board voted 5-1 to approve the idea of seeking outside legal help to deal with the half-cent sales tax referendum.

It comes after the City Council voted down their push to get it on the November ballot.

Parents Cole spoke to on Tuesday are frustrated the two groups are still at a standstill.

“What's more important than our children?” Joan Collier asked?

"The type of environment they learn in has a major impact on them,” Lacora Hardy told Cole.

A legal memo sent out by the Office of General Counsel to the school board Tuesday afternoon helps explain why they're in a dead heat.

First: General Counsel says “no one discussed the matter” of an emergency meeting, prior to it happening

Second: As you continue to read through the memo, you see the following line, "All legal service requests outside counsel must be approved by general counsel."

That means they have to approve any legal moves the school board makes before they can actually take any action.

"We are seeking to ask him for outside counsel, we will see what his answer is tomorrow,” Hershey said.

When Cole asked Supervisor of Elections about  Mike Hogan about the absolute last possible calendar date the school board has to put this on the ballot this year, Hogan told Cole:

They would need a decision 120-150 days ( 4 to 5 months) before November’s election day, which is already too late.

We won’t have a final answer on all of this until Aug. 13.

That’s when the Office of General Counsel will make their final weigh-in before they plan to pass it on to the Attorney General.

Cox Media Group