An audit conducted in November has been presented to lawmakers, shedding light on the complexities of voucher funding and its impact on public education finances in Florida.

The audit highlighted significant accountability issues, spurred by the rapid expansion of the voucher program. The investigation discovered that funds originally allocated for public schools were being redirected to support vouchers, leaving financial gaps in public school budgets.

Andrew Spar, who serves as the president of the Florida Education Association, emphasized the need for a distinct separation of funds. “We must ensure that public school funding and voucher money are kept separate to prevent financial disruptions in the middle of the school year, which have already affected districts like Hillsborough and Pinellas counties,” Spar stated.

In response, State Senator Don Gaetz has introduced a bill this week aimed at tackling this issue. This legislative proposal aligns with the audit’s recommendations, seeking to resolve the funding discrepancies highlighted in the report.

State Sen. Don Gaetz filed a bill this week to address that issue. It was also listed as a recommendation in the audit to help remedy one of the issues.

Spar would also like to see a way for taxpayers to track every dollar in the voucher system.

“They should be required to be accountable for every dime of taxpayer money that goes into that program,” Spar said.

Overall, the audit showed nine recommendations. They include re-evaluating application windows to better align with funding time frames and adding staff resources for the cross-check process.

Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner addressed voucher funding concerns during a stop in Tampa while campaigning for governor.

“Administratively, when there’s an administrative program or there’s somebody in the system that’s cheating, kick them out of the system,” Renner said.

Renner spearheaded the expansion through House Bill 1 in 2023. He also said tweaks are needed but not a complete overhaul.

“It’s fine to reform it. What I’m saying is wholesale, like we got to throw the baby out with the bathwater, is not an acceptable solution,” Renner said.

It’s expected that lawmakers will file additional bills following this audit and complaints from private and charter schools including parents, about funding and disbursement issues.

The Florida Department of Education has not responded to our request for comment relating to this story.