HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool District of Hillsborough County - Public Financial Report
Fiscal Year Ended
June 30, 2021
Tampa, FL
Digital artwork on cover page was provided by:
Emma Holmes
11th grade student
Blake High School
1
Message from the CFO
Dear Citizens and Taxpayers of Hillsborough County:
Finance Services is pleased to present the Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Popular Annual
Financial Report (PAFR) for the community. This report is an opportunity to present the
district’s finances in a more condensed format. We hope this provides an understanding of the
basic financial health and operations in our district.
The intent of this report is to summarize the financial activities and operating results reported
in the Hillsborough County Public Schools’ audited Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
(CAFR). The CAFR is a more detailed and complete financial presentation prepared in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and was audited by the
district’s independent external auditors. The PAFR is unaudited and also presented in
conformity with GAAP. However, it does not include full disclosures or segregated funds. For
more detailed information, the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is available on the
district’s website at: Accounting Services / Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR)
(hillsboroughschools.org) If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact
Stephanie Heaton (813) 272‐4292, or write to: General Manager of Payment and Accounting
Services, 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602.
Respectfully,
Romaneir Johnson, Chief Financial Officer
VISION
Preparing Students for Life.
MISSION
To provide an education
and the supports that
enable each student to
excel as a successful and
responsible citizen.
In this report:
Message from the CFO ..................................................... 1
Financial Transparency ..................................................... 2
School Board Members .................................................... 3
About Hillsborough County Public Schools ...................... 4
Accounting Terminology and Budget ............................... 6
Financial Summary ........................................................... 7
Where the Money Comes From ....................................... 9
How the Money is Spent ................................................ 12
Fund Balance – General Fund ......................................... 14
Long Term Debt .............................................................. 15
Capital Assets .................................................................. 16
2
Financial Transparency
To provide transparency about the financial
operations, the Popular Annual Financial Report
(PAFR) was published for the first time in 2017.
We are proud to present the 2021 PAFR to
continue providing citizens and other interested
parties with a brief summary and explanation of
the district’s government‐wide financial
statements, general operating fund revenues,
expenditures, and other relevant financial
trends and legislation that will impact the
district. This selected information is taken from
the audited financial statements contained in
the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2021.
Hillsborough County Public Schools has been
awarded the Certificate of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial Reporting for the CAFR
from the Government Finance Officers
Association of the United States and Canada
(GFOA) for 20 consecutive years. To earn these
awards the district must produce an easy to
read and efficiently organized CAFR whose
content conform to program standards.
The district has also been awarded the
Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual
Financial Reporting from GFOA for four
consecutive years.
This award is a prestigious national award
recognizing conformance with the highest
standards for report preparation for state and
local governments while maintaining reader
appeal in presentation and understandability.
It is our hope that information provided in the
PAFR will be meaningful and reliable
information about our district’s performance.
3
School Board Members
Nadia Combs, Chair, representing District 1, Henry “Shake” Washington, Vice Chair, representing District
5, Lynn Gray, representing District 7, Karen Perez, representing District 6, Dr. Stacy Hahn representing
District 2, Melissa Snively, representing District 4, Jessica Vaughn, representing District 3.
Hillsborough County Public
Schools is the eighth largest school district
in the nation as of June 30, 2021. The School
Board is comprised of a seven‐member board
elected on staggered terms in a county wide
election. The School Board is the policy making
and legislative authority for the school district.
It is responsible for the organization and control
of the district’s public schools, determining
policy, adopting the budget and other matters
related to the effective operation and general
improvement of the school system.
Additionally, the School Board appoints the
Superintendent of Schools.
Addison G. Davis, as the Superintendent, is the
Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for
enforcement of laws and ordinances,
preparation and administration of the annual
budget, provision of services, implementation
of policies, and appointment of staff.
Hillsborough County Public Schools embraces
the diversity of its students and strives to
achieve excellence in education through a
rigorous hands‐on
curriculum taught by
highly‐effective
educators.
4
About Hillsborough County Public Schools
Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is
the eighth largest school district in the nation.
The county is so expansive it covers 1,000
square miles.
There are 137 elementary schools, 42 middle
schools, 9 Kindergarten through 8th grade (K‐8)
schools, 28 high schools, 11 specialty schools,
and 16 programs with enrollment operating
throughout the district.
As of April 2021, we had 24,866 employees and
a student population of 179,762 for
Hillsborough County Public Schools (not
including charter schools).
While the coronavirus pandemic has affected
social interactions, our school district is
adapting to the changes.
Hillsborough County has a new learning
resource exclusive to public school students in
Pre‐K thru 5th grades. It’s called Virtual
Quarantine Support and offers free virtual
support for all elementary students who are
impacted by COVID‐19, through isolation or
quarantine.
To assist our 6th thru 12th grade students the
district has a new tutoring service offered by
Paper. Paper is a secure, online tutoring service
that provides 24/7 academic support. Besides
homework and study for a test it is also an
excellent resource for students on quarantine
or isolation.
Due to COVID‐19, the USDA is still allowing all
students enrolled in and attending a
Hillsborough County Public School to receive
free breakfast and lunch at school.
In Hillsborough County Public Schools, we
prioritize student mental health as a safety
prevention measure. Seminole Heights
Elementary infuses Social and Emotional
Learning (SEL) into each day. SEL lessons are a
best practice and strongly encouraged in our
schools from Pre‐K thru 12th grade. Our Student
Services team hopes that the SEL curriculum
will become a state standard for all our
teachers.
5
About Hillsborough County Public Schools
Thirteen of our high schools are home to
National Merit Honors Semifinalists. This
means they received the highest PSAT scores
last year and will go on to compete for college
scholarships in the spring.
MacFarland Park Elementary Magnet and
Riverhills Elementary Magnet applied to
become Nationally Certified Magnet Schools of
Excellence – an honor they’d been working
towards for several years. Not only did they
become Nationally Certified, but this year they
were also recognized by MSA as National
Demonstration Schools.
Hillsborough County Schools, Zemenaye Harris
was named by the Florida Department of
Education as the state’s Assistant Principal of
the Year following her exemplary leadership at
Booker T. Washington Elementary School
throughout the pandemic.
Hillsborough County JROTC program had
exciting news with Steinbrenner High’s Army
JROTC Robotics team moved up to #5 overall for
all JROTC Robotics teams in Florida and is now
ranked #14 in the Nation. Plant High’s Air Force
JROTC became finalist in the nationwide Joint
Leadership & Academic Bowl. They are now on
their way to Washington DC to compete in the
JLAB Championship.
Sumner High School, the district’s newest high
school has been awarded the distinction of
becoming an official Cambridge AICE
International School, one of the first ever in
Hillsborough County Public Schools. The
Cambridge AICE diploma is recognized by the
world’s best universities, setting a global
standard for education. The curriculum is
flexible, challenging, and inspiring.
Our International Baccalaureate Program
students continue to achieve impressive
diploma rates, finishing the academic year with
one of the highest in district history, well above
the national IB diploma rate.
Hillsborough County Public Schools is soaring to
new educational heights by reaching a
graduation rate of 88.8%, the highest in district
history. Despite the inherent challenges the
pandemic brought upon our students, including
remote learning, our students were able to
achieve at high levels while becoming full‐
option graduates.
6
Accounting Terminology and Budget
Accounting Terminology
Net invested in capital assets is the difference between
the value of capital assets and the unpaid portion of
debt that is financing those capital assets.
Net Position is the difference between assets and
deferred outflow of resources and liabilities and
deferred inflow of resources for the district as a whole.
Restricted net position is the amount of assets or
resources limited for a specific purpose.
Unrestricted net position is the difference between
assets and liabilities not already included in net
investments in capital assets, and restricted net
position.
Government‐wide is the district as a whole.
Governmental activities are the district’s basic services
funded by property, sales tax, and the Florida Education
Finance Program (FEFP).
Deferred outflows of resources are a consumption of
net position that is applicable to a future reporting
period.
Deferred inflows of resources are an acquisition of net
position that is applicable to a future reporting period.
Capital assets are assets that the district intends to
hold or continue to use over a long period of time.
Appropriation is setting aside of budget for specific
use.
Estimated Revenue is setting aside budget for expected
revenue.
Fund is a fiscal and accounting entity that is segregated
for the purpose of carrying on a specific activity.
Function is a classification that indicates the overall
purpose or object of an expenditure.
Object is an indication of the type of goods or services
obtained as a result of the expenditure.
GASB the Governmental Accounting Standards Board is
the source of generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP) used by state and local governments in the
United States.
Budget
Under state law, the district is required to
prepare an annual budget. The budget is
prepared by each governmental fund type
prescribed by law and State Board of Education
rules. Original budgets are submitted to the
Florida Department of Education for approval.
The budget is prepared by fund, function,
object, and department. Management may
make budget transfers between departments
and objects; however, the function level is the
legal level of budgetary control and may only be
amended by resolution of the Board. The
original budget is amended monthly based
upon transfers at the function level.
The initial board approved budget is referred to
as the original budget. At fiscal year end, the
final amended budget contains all of the
adjustments for legally authorized revisions of
the original budget throughout the year.
The district prepares a “budget to actual”
comparison for School Board review on a
monthly basis.
Budgets are prepared using the modified
accrual basis, which is the method used to
account for actual transactions in the
governmental funds. In modified accrual,
revenue is recorded in the period it becomes
available and measureable while expenditures
are recognized in the period the liability is
incurred.
7
Financial Summary
Government‐wide Financial Information
The Government‐wide financial statements include the Statement of Net Position and the Statement of
Activities. This information is designed to provide readers with a long‐term overview of the district’s
finances similar to the private sector. All governmental funds are consolidated and presented as
Governmental Activities which are normally supported by taxes and intergovernmental revenues.
The Statement of Net Position (below) provides information on all of HCPS’s assets and liabilities, with
the difference between the two reported as net position or net worth. Increases or decreases in the
net position serve as an indicator of whether the financial position of the district is improving or
declining. Component Unit (charter schools) information is not included in this financial summary. All
dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.
STATEMENT OF NET POSITION 2021 2020
Assets
Cash and investments 495,712$ 386,494$
Other assets 139,300 131,957
Capital assets 2,418,339 2,359,086
Total assets 3,053,351 2,877,537
Deferred outflows of resources 518,421 463,220
Total assets and deferred outflows of resources 3,571,772 3,340,757
Liabilities
Accounts payable 55,876 68,983
Other liabilities 59,862 61,874
Long‐term liabilities 2,549,608 2,371,603
Total liabilities 2,665,346 2,502,460
Deferred inflows of resources 173,149 228,999
Total liabilities and deferred inflows of resources 2,838,495 2,731,459
Net investment of capital assets 1,731,375 1,613,592
Restricted 401,694 288,207
Unrestricted (1,399,792) (1,292,501)
Total net position 733,277$ 609,298$
Key financial highlights included assets and deferred outflows of resources exceeding liabilities
and deferred inflows of resources by $733,277 (net position).
Of this amount, ($1,399,792) represents a deficit unrestricted net position. This deficit balance
was attributed to the effects of long term liabilities, such as other post employment benefits,
pension benefits and compensated absences.
The largest portion of the district’s net position $1,731,375, reflects its net investment in capital
assets less any related debt and deferred outflows of resources used to acquire those assets
that are still outstanding.
8
Financial Summary
Government‐wide Financial Information
The Statement of Activities (below) provides information on all of HCPS’s revenues and expenditures,
with the difference between the two reported as net position or net worth. Increases or decreases in
the net position serve as an indicator of whether the financial position of the district is improving or
declining. Component Unit (charter schools) information is not included in this financial summary.
All dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES 2021 2020
Revenues
Charges for services 17,573$ 40,663$
Operating grants and contributions 90,980 95,815
Capital grants and contributions 8,120 8,532
Property taxes, levied for operational purposes 528,484 502,573
Property taxes, levied for capital projects 171,314 162,753
Local sales taxes 34,546 31,060
Sales tax referendum 134,178 127,771
Grants and contributions not restricted to specific programs 1,498,007 1,394,398
Investment earnings 753 7,675
Miscellaneous 110,151 80,135
Total revenues 2,594,106 2,451,375
Expenses
Instructional services 1,424,491 1,438,854
Instructional support services 286,953 280,129
Pupil transportation services 64,201 68,510
Operation and maintenance of plant 175,890 165,860
Non‐capitalizable facilities acquisition and construction 195,706 175,057
School administration 123,224 121,453
General administration 54,997 49,348
Food services 107,107 119,810
Community services and other 14,348 20,073
Interest on long term debt 22,979 27,335
Unallocated depreciation 231 188
Total expenses 2,470,127 2,466,617
Change in net position 123,979 (15,242)
Net position at the beginning of the year restated 609,298 624,540
Net position at the end of the year 733,277$ 609,298$
Key financial highlights included an increase of $123,979 in net position.
An increase in unrestricted grants and contributions of $103,609 is a result of an increase in
grants awarded to the district along with the new federal stabilization funds.
Property tax revenue increased $34,472 during the year as a result of an increase in assessed
values.
The addition of a voter approved sales tax referendum added $134,178 of revenue earmarked
for school renovations and major improvements.
9
Where The Money Comes From
Sources of Revenue
There are three types of operational revenue
sources that sustain our school district: local,
state, and federal dollars.
While the district utilizes other funds that are
presented on the financial statements, most of
the daily operations are in the General Fund. As
such, it will be the primary focus of discussion.
Local Sources
Local revenue sources made up 32% of General
Fund revenues in fiscal year 2021; those
revenues totaled $575 million. The majority of
those funds, $528 million (92% of local sources)
are from Hillsborough County property taxes.
Understanding Property Tax
Owners of residential or business real estate pay
taxes to fund services and agencies within the
community ‐‐ education is just one of those
services. Taxes are levied by the taxing
authorities empowered by the State Legislature.
The taxable valuation of real estate or personal
property is established by the County Property
Appraiser. The Florida Legislature sets the
millage, or rate of taxation, for schools. The
millage rate is the rate of taxes levied based on a
mill (1/10 of a cent), or one dollar per one
thousand dollars of taxable value.
State Sources
State revenue sources made up 67% of General
Fund revenues in fiscal year 2021; those
revenues totaled $1.1 billion. The majority of
those funds, $910 million (76% of state sources)
are from the Florida Education Finance Program.
Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)
The FEFP is a funding formula that was adopted
by the Florida Legislature in 1973 to allocate
funds appropriated by the Legislature to school
districts for K‐12 public school operations. The
FEFP implements the constitutional requirement
for a uniform system of free public education.
The funds are allocated using a unit of
measurement for each student called a “full‐time
equivalent” or FTE. In order to obtain the
correct FEFP funding for each district in the State
of Florida, the Commissioner of Education
annually prescribes survey periods.
Local,
$575,227
32%
State,
$1,192,493
67%
Federal,
$14,379
1%
GENERAL FUND REVENUE
AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS
10
Where The Money Comes From
Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)
For FTE reporting, the survey periods are:
Survey Period 1 (July): Beginning of the fiscal
year (July 1) to the beginning of the 180‐day
school year.
Survey Period 2 (October): First 90 days of
the 180‐day school year.
Survey Period 3 (February): Second 90 days
of the 180‐day school year.
Survey Period 4 (June): End of the 180‐day
school program to the end of the fiscal year
(June 30).
Class Size Compliance
In 2002, Florida’s residents approved an
amendment to the Florida Constitution that
set restrictions on the number of students in
core classes such as (Math, English, Science,
etc.) in the State’s public schools. While this
amendment does not generate revenue,
there are penalties if class size compliance is
not met.
As an open enrollment district, the state
calculation for compliance with maximum
class size is the average number of students
at the school level – not the average number
of students in each classroom.
The school level average calculation provides
the district flexibility to comply with the law
and better respond to student needs.
The averages by grade level are:
Grade
Level
Average Class Size
Requirement
Pre K – 3 18
4 – 8 22
9 ‐ 12 25
The averages are based on classes defined as
core classes by the State. At elementary and
middle schools, there will be two sets of
school averages. Elementary site
calculations will include an average for
grades K‐3 and a separate average for grades
4‐5.
Middle school site calculations will include
an average for grades 6‐8 and a separate
average for high school credit courses.
The district must be in compliance for class
size prior to the FTE Survey 2 taken in
October and FTE Survey 3 taken in February.
11
Where The Money Comes From
Federal Sources
Federal revenue sources made up 1% of General
Fund revenues in fiscal year 2021; those revenues
totaled $14 million. There are two types of federal
sources: federal grants direct which made up $3
million and federal grants through state which
totaled $11 million.
Types of Federal Sources
The majority of federal revenue sources to the
General Fund are Junior Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps (JROTC) and Medicaid revenue. The district
has an agreement with the Department of Defense
to contribute a percentage of salary for retired
military personnel who are hired to teach JROTC at
our high schools. Medicaid reimbursement is
claimed for services provided to our Medicaid
eligible students with Individualized Education
Plans (IEPs). JROTC is a federal grants direct
funding source whereas Medicaid reimbursement
is a federal grant funded through the state.
Total General Fund Operational Revenues
Overall, the total amount of operational revenue
from the three sources: local, state, and federal,
equaled $1,782,099 billion for the 2021 fiscal year.
The increase in revenue from 2020 to 2021 was
$27.7 million. However, the increase includes the
revenue for Charter Schools, so as they increase so
does the revenue. The District is a pass‐through
for payments to Charter Schools from the State.
Local and state revenue sources increased this
fiscal year. The growth in Local revenue was a
result of an increase in assessed property taxes,
while the increase in state revenue was attributed
to an increase in both categorical revenue, FEFP,
and pass‐through funding for Charter Schools.
Categorical revenue is revenue that the state
earmarks for specific uses. These dollars cannot be
used for any other purpose. An example of this
type of revenue would be funds for textbooks,
transportation of students, and security.
While the increase in FEFP was the result of a small
increase in per student funding, it is important to
note that the district’s enrollment decreased while
charter schools increased their enrollment over
the prior year. When this occurs, FEFP funding
leaves the
district to
follow those
students.
$ 1,616,849
$ 1,670,686
$ 1,706,997
$1,754,343
$1,782,099
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Total General Fund
Operational Revenue
dollar amounts expressed in thousands
12
How The Money is Spent
Instructional Services: activities dealing
directly with the teaching of students, or the
interaction between teachers and students.
Students are directly impacted by this category,
which relates to direct classroom instruction.
Instructional Support: provides administrative,
technical (guidance and health) and logistical
support to facilitate and enhance instruction.
Pupil Transportation Services: relates to the
transporting of students to and from school
activities, either between home and school,
from school to school, or on trips for curricular
activities.
Operation of Maintenance and Plant: relates to
maintenance, grounds, and custodial services of
buildings and schools.
School Administration: expenditures are due to
activities concerned with directing and
managing the operation of a school.
General Administration: expenditures are
activities performed by operating schools and
the school system, and providing the essential
facilities and services for the pupils and staff.
Facilities Acquisition and Construction:
expenditures from acquisition of land, buildings,
remodeling, construction, initial installation, or
improvements.
Food Services: expenditures are a result of
preparing and servicing food to students.
Community Services and Other: expenditures
from activities provided by the school system
for the community as a whole.
Capital Outlay: expenses are capital
expenditures for the acquisition of fixed assets
or additions to fixed assets.
Instructional Services,
$1,193,529
67%
Instructional Support,
$173,370
10%
Pupil Transportation
Services,
$60,126
3%
Operation of Maintenance &
Plant,
$164,385
9%
School Administration,
$110,774
6%
General Administration,
$39,856
2%
Facilities Acquisition &
Construction,
$3,886
0%
Food Services
$233
0%
Community Services and
Other,
$9,948
1%
Capital Outlay,
$18,102
1%
General Fund Expenditures
dollar amounts expressed in thousands
13
How The Money is Spent
Expenditures by Object
While it is important to identify expenditures at
the function level, or purpose, the object level
reveals the type of goods or services received.
In order to see the true cost at the object level,
expenditures for charter schools were removed.
This provides a better picture of how HCPS is
spending its resources.
The expenses for the General Fund are
expressed in the thousands at $1,513,784
billion. Out of this amount: salaries and
benefits total $1,351,917 or 89.3%; purchased
services total $43,894 or 2.9%; energy services
total $34,988 or 2.3%; materials and supplies
total $40,674 or 2.7%; capital outlay total
$6,504 or 0.4%; and other types total $35,806
or 2.4%. Compared to the prior year, salaries
and benefits are reduced, but many were
transferred to the Federal Stabilization Funds.
Salaries and Benefits
In fiscal year 2021, employee compensation
made up 89.3% of the district General Fund
expenditures.
HCPS had 14,795 certified teachers, 236
principals, 420 assistant principals, 287 district
administrators, 9,128 support personnel
totaling 25,574 employees.
Purchased Services
Dollars paid for personal services delivered by
people who are not on the district payroll and
payments to charter schools for per pupil
funding from state revenue sources.
Energy Services
Expenditures in this category are: natural gas,
bottled gas, electricity, gasoline, and diesel fuel.
Materials and Supplies
Expenditures in this object are for items that
are expendable or consumable such as:
supplies, vehicle repair parts, tires, oil, and
grease.
Capital Outlay
Expenditures for acquisition or improving
capital assets including buildings, land,
equipment, and motor vehicles.
Other
Items not previously classified: dues and fees,
miscellaneous expenditures, and temporary
personnel.
Total General Fund Operational Expenditures
In fiscal year 2021, General Fund operational
expenditures decreased $64 million dollars as a
result of being re‐allocated to the Federal
Stabilization Funds.
89.3%
2.9%2.3% 2.7% 0.4% 2.4%
Salaries &
Benefits
Purchased
Service
Energy
Service
Materials
& Supplies
capital
Outlay
Other
General Fund Expenditures by Object
dollar amounts expressed in thousands
$1,666,698 $1,696,048
$1,761,035
$1,842,037
$1,777,643
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Total General Fund
Operational Expenditures
dollar amounts expressed in thousands
14
Fund Balance ‐ General Fund
Fund Balance
Fund balance is the net worth of a fund
measured by assets minus liabilities. At the end
of each fiscal year, the difference between
revenues less expenditures will affect fund
balance. If revenue is higher, it will increase
fund balance. If expenditures are higher, it will
decrease fund balance. For example, when
expenditures exceed revenue at the end of a
fiscal year, cash (which is an asset) is reduced.
This results in having less assets available for
use.
Expenditures have been exceeding the
operating revenue year after year. As a result,
there is a districtwide focus on reducing
expenditures and increasing operational
revenues. We are leveraging energy
efficiencies, renegotiating contracts, increasing
reimbursements, and moving allowable
expenditures to other funding sources.
Due to the impact
of COVID‐19,
there was a
decrease in local
revenues,
however;
expenditures
related to the
pandemic were
allocated to other
funding sources.
The General Fund has been paying expenses
that belong to other funding sources. To offset
these costs, there have been transfers of
revenue from other funds to the General Fund.
This form of non‐operating revenue is called
“Other Financing Sources (Uses)”.
Transfers to the General Fund reduce the
availability of monies from the fund it was
transferred from.
For example, revenue transferred to the
General Fund from a Capital Fund would reduce
the monies available for capital projects.
The graph below identifies all transfers in to
the General Fund.
Included in the transfers in the graph above,
Capital dollars designated for charter schools
must initially be recorded in the Capital Funds
then transferred to the General Fund to cover
the payment made to the charter schools.
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
$140,774 $146,203 $150,518
$118,238
$147,507
Fund Balance ‐ General Fund
dollar amounts expressed in thousands
$47,768
$34,303
$61,157 $58,709
$24,813
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Transfer of Revenue to General Fund
dollar amounts expressed in thousands
$5,047 $3,702
$11,843 $13,114 $13,867
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Transfer of Revenue to General Fund
for Payments to Charter Schools
dollar amounts expressed in thousands
15
Long Term Debt
Long Term Debt
The district’s borrowed and bonded debt has
continually decreased over the last five years.
There are two types of debt: Certificates of
Participation (COPs) and Bonds. Amounts
below are expressed in thousands.
Certificates of Participation (COPs)
Certificates of Participation are a financing tool
that allows a school district to finance property
to be paid over time in the form of lease
payments. The proceeds are used for
construction and renovation of facilities. The
funding source for repayment of this debt
comes from property taxes.
Bonds
Bonds are similar to a mortgage on a home.
The district issues bonds to investors (bond
holders) who receive principal and interest
payments for use of these funds. The proceeds
are used for the construction and renovation of
facilities, or the purchase of equipment.
There are three types of bonds: State School
Bonds, District Revenue Bonds, and Sales Tax
Revenue Bonds.
State School Bonds
These bonds are issued by the State Board of
Education on behalf of school districts. They
are secured by a pledge of the district’s portion
of the state‐assessed motor vehicle license tax.
All principal and interest payments, along with
any other compliance, are administered by the
State Board of Education.
District Revenue Bonds
These type of bonds allow the district to pledge
a portion of racetrack funds that accrue
annually to Hillsborough County to pay down
the debt associated with this issuance.
Sales Tax Revenue Bonds
These bonds are secured by a pledge of
proceeds that come from property taxes or
one‐half cent millage assessed to property
owners in Hillsborough County.
Bond Ratings
The district has been given the following bond
ratings on both types of debt:
Sales Tax Rev. Certificates of
Bonds Participation
Moody’s A2 A2
Standard & Poors A A
Fitch A‐ A‐
The ratings defined:
Moody's S&P Fitch
Highest Quality Aaa AAA AAA
Aa1 AA+ AA+
High Quality Aa2 AA AA
Aa3 AA‐ AA‐
A1 A+ A+
Upper Medium A2 A A
A3 A‐ A‐
Baa1 BBB+ BBB+
Medium Grade Baa2 BBB BBB
Baa3 BBB‐ BBB‐
The bond rating effects our borrowing rate. The
same as your personal credit score effects your
borrowing rate.
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Long Term Debt
Bonds COPs
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Bonds $205,079 $185,210 $166,434 $147,500 $129,037
COPs 743,854 715,386 674,631 630,301 584,891
$948,933 $900,596 $841,065 $777,801 $713,928
16
Capital Assets
What are capital assets?
All district owned property such as land,
buildings, equipment, improvements made to
leased and owned buildings, vehicles (including
buses), and software make up the value of our
capital assets.
School Buses
Yellow school buses make up the largest
number of district vehicles. The wear and tear
is continuous due to increased bus route
volume and usage up to six days per week. Our
buses:
travel over 17 million miles annually.
transport over 84,000 students daily.
stop at over 15,000 locations every day.
consume over 14,000 gallons of diesel
fuel daily and 3 million gallons annually.
There are 837 buses on the road daily covering
over 4,000 bus routes. We currently have 90
propane buses in our fleet and we are fortunate
to have a propane fueling station on property (a
capital asset).
The school board approves between 90‐98 bus
purchases per year, which puts us on a 13‐year
replacement plan.
There are many older buildings as the district
has been in existence since 1848. Currently we
have 9 buildings that over 100 years old, which
equals 4 percent of all buildings in the district.
Age of Building Percent
100+ 4%
75 – 99 13%
50 – 74 31%
25 – 49 21%
0 ‐ 24 31%
We have many overdue needs as a result of the
number of aging buildings. Fortunately for our
school district, voters in Hillsborough County
approved a referendum for one‐half cent sales
surtax in November, 2018. As a result, in fiscal
year 2021, we have received $134 million in
additional revenue for capital improvements.
As of the June 2021, over 100 schools
benefitted from those dollars.
Projects as a result of the sales tax revenue:
HVAC (air conditioning)
Roofing
Electrical upgrades
Track, Courts and Playgrounds
Gymnasium
Security
Sun Shades
17
Capital Assets
Capital Assets
Of all district owned property, buildings have
the largest dollar value. The total value of our
capital assets equaled over $2.4 billion in fiscal
year 2021.
Land $159,884
Land Improvements $95,770
Construction in Progress $35,879
Improvements $80,399
Buildings $1,972,368
Equipment $21,565
Leased Buildings $6,140
Vehicles $46,285
Software $49
Total $2,418,339
(Amounts above are expressed in thousands.)
As our school district assets age, the
maintenance expenses increase. Schools need
new roof tops, or air‐conditioning systems must
be replaced. Additionally, our older buses need
constant repair. This includes minor parts such
as belts, batteries, or tires to major parts such
as engines or transmissions. The funding for
capital assets comes from the Capital Funds
which now includes the voter approved
referendum for one‐half cent sales surtax.
Percent of Assets by Type
Land
6.8%
Land Improvements
4.1%
Construction in Progress
1.5%
Improvements
3.3%
Buildings
81.6%
Equipment
0.9%
Leased Buildings
0.3%Vehicles
1.9%
Software
0.0%
Superintendent of Schools
Jeff Eakins
School Board Members
Stacy A. Hahn
PREPARED BY ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Superintendent of Schools
Addison G. Davis
School Board Members
Nadia Combs, Chair
Henry “Shake” Washington, Vice Chair
Lynn L. Gray
Stacy A. Hahn, Ph.D.
Karen Perez
Melissa Snively
Jessica Vaughn
VISION
Preparing students for life.
MISSION
To provide an education and
the supports which enable each
student to excel as a successful
and responsible citizen.