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Funding <br />The Dori Slosberg fee generated approximately $45,000 per year as of fiscal year 2006, based <br />upon a $3.00 levy. This translates to revenue of about $75,000, at a $5.00 levy assuming the <br />same level of traffic citations. The Dori Slosberg fee would not be sufficient to support driver <br />education programs provided by the School District. However, it appears that other alternatives <br />may be available to provide driver education programs within the funding limitations of anticipated <br />revenues from the Dori Slosberg fee as discussed below. <br />Analysis <br />County staff has received information from the United Safety Council regarding a driver education <br />program that could meet the needs of Indian River County. The United Safety Council provides <br />various safety and health training courses, professional testing and monitoring in order to reduce <br />preventable injuries and improve safety. Currently, the United Safety Council is the vendor of <br />record for the Florida Virtual School Driver Education Program. The organization has trained over <br />3,700 students since this program was established. Through this program, the Florida Virtual <br />School and the United Safety Council has teamed up to provide Orange County students a free <br />full course in driver education. Students receive both online and behind -the -wheel training. <br />According to United Safety Council staff, this program is fully funded through the Dori Slosberg <br />fee in Orange County. The United Safety Council is interested in providing this program in Indian <br />River County as well. Furthermore, staff has indicated that this program could be funded with the <br />Dori Slosberg fees in Indian River County, as has been done in Orange County. <br />An additional vendor (A Treasure Coast Driving School) has contacted the County and the School <br />District and expressed interest in providing driver education for Indian River County. It should <br />also be noted that the County has provided funding for this vendor to St. Edward's School from <br />Dori Slosberg funds in the past. These previous payments were made to reimburse St. Edward's <br />School for the cost of a driver education program provided by A Treasure Coast Driving School. <br />For this service, St. Edward's pays a flat rate per student. <br />In summary, there appears to be at least two options available for the provision of driver education <br />for Indian River County students. At least one of these alternatives has indicated that the program <br />could be fully funded through the Dori Slosberg fee, which meets the parameters set by the School <br />District to provide driver education programs to students. It is important to note here that the <br />schools will have the responsibility of implementing any driver education program including the <br />selection of a vendor, not the Board of County Commissioners. Rather, the Board is the entity <br />that has the authority to levy the Dori Slosberg fee and administer the funds (which includes <br />ensuring compliance with the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act). Therefore, the Board <br />needs only to make a determination of whether to charge the Dori Slosberg fee ($5.00) on traffic <br />citations going forward. The Board may also wish to consider how funding should be allocated <br />between the School District and St. Edward's. <br />2 <br />158 <br />