FL S0066

Authorizes counties to levy a discretionary sales surtax of up to 0.5 percent for higher education institutions (Florida College System and state universities) located in the county, subject to voter approval by referendum.

Requires the Florida College System institution to meet completion rate thresholds before a referendum can be held: at least 40 percent of students complete associate degrees within 150 percent of catalogue time, or 45 percent complete within 200 percent of catalogue time.

Directs 90 percent of surtax proceeds to the Florida College System institution and 10 percent to the state university, restricted to capital expenditures, infrastructure projects, facility maintenance and improvements, and land acquisition.

Establishes a 9-member oversight board appointed by the Governor to review and approve annual spending plans from each institution's board of trustees, with quarterly public meetings required.

Provides that surtax proceeds do not reduce state funding allocations to the institutions and that the surtax expires after 5 years, with a 20-year prohibition on levying another higher education surtax in the same county.