The Florida Senate

¹235.216  Maximum square foot cost of educational facilities; frugal construction incentives.--

(1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that district school boards that seek awards of SIT Program funds use due diligence and sound business practices in the design, construction, and use of educational facilities.

²(2)  Beginning with the 1997-1998 fiscal year, a school district may seek funding assistance from the SIT Program for new construction of educational facilities if:

(a)  The maximum total cost per square foot for the elementary school, middle school, or high school does not exceed the most current 5-year statewide average square foot total cost for schools serving similar grade levels published by the Department of Education, adjusted by inflation and the most current Marshall and Swift Construction Cost Index of Florida counties. If federal funds are used, the maximum square foot total cost may be adjusted to accommodate federal requirements.

(b)  Upon completion of construction, the total project cost, including change orders, does not exceed the adjusted statewide average cost per gross square foot for schools serving similar grade levels, adjusted by the construction cost index and the 5-year statewide average inflation rate; does not exceed the minimum square footage per student specified in the State Requirements for Educational Facilities, 1997; and does not exceed the adjusted statewide average cost per student station.

History.--s. 23, ch. 97-153; s. 3, ch. 97-265.

¹Note.--Section 23, ch. 97-153, created s. 235.216, "[i]n order to implement Specific Appropriation 46A of the 1997-1998 General Appropriations Act."

²Note.--As created by s. 3, ch. 97-265. This version is published here as the last expression of legislative will (see Journal of the House of Representatives 1997, pp. 2173 and 2175). Subsection (2) was also created by s. 23, ch. 97-153, and that version reads:

(2)(a)  Beginning with the 1997-1998 fiscal year, the maximum total cost per square foot for each type of school, elementary school, middle school, and high school, in a district seeking funding assistance from the SIT Program shall not exceed the most current 5-year statewide average square foot total cost published by the Department of Education, adjusted by inflation and the most current Marshall and Swift Construction Cost Index of Florida counties. If federal funds are used, the maximum square foot total cost may be adjusted to accommodate federal requirements.

(b)  Upon completion of construction, the total project cost, including change orders, must not exceed the adjusted statewide average cost per gross square foot, adjusted by the construction cost index and the 5-year statewide average inflation rate; must not exceed the minimum square footage per student specified in the State Requirements for Educational Facilities, 1997; and must not exceed the adjusted statewide average cost per student station.