LEON CO., FL (WTXL) - Public schools in Leon County are getting money from BP. The School Board says it approved the $1 million BP settlement offer at the special board meeting on Tuesday night.
Communications Manager Chris Petley says after fees, such as lawyer expenses, the money will be around $780,000.
This money is separate from the City of Tallahassee’s $2.6 million settlement and will be added to a reserve fund that will be used for the board’s budget.
This fund is required by the state and must kept at three percent of the overall budget.
In return for the money, the boards agrees in the contract to end all claims against the oil company and affiliated parties.
Petley says next week the board will begin the budget progress and hear recommendations of how to spend the money.
While there have been many claims to BP for damages, Petley says the board received money because of the decrease in state funds to the public schools.
Tourism is a main way that the state funds the schools, so when tourism in North Florida beaches declined, revenues also decreased. This caused less money to be given to the schools, says Petley.
