With controversy swirling over a school bus camera contract and the county set to start issuing traffic citations in September, Polk County Public Schools spokesman Kyle Kennedy refused to provide updated contract language and instead directed interested parties to seek the information through a time-consuming public records request.

Despite growing scrutiny and a rapidly approaching deadline, Polk County Public School officials remain tight-lipped over a controversial school bus camera contract with Verra Mobility, which when last seen still included compensation provisions that appeared to violate state law. After public assurances that the contract would be amended to clarify payment structures, district officials now appear reluctant to share the updated language, leaving parents, taxpayers, and drivers in the dark about whether the agreement is compliant with Florida statutes. The program is set to start issuing citations as early as September.

The original contract called for Verra Mobility to receive $49 for each potential traffic violation sent to law enforcement for review. Such payments are illegal under Florida law, which prohibits private vendors from being compensated based on the number of violations detected by school bus camera systems. The Capitolist on Monday asked Polk County Schools for the updated contract language that district officials previously promised would clear up any controversy regarding the payments.

As recently as August 14th, Polk County Public School officials had promised transparency on the matter. “We want to reassure the public that our program meets statutory requirements and clarifying the language of our contract should help dispel any misconceptions,” wrote Jason Geary, Senior Director of Communications for the district.

However, by late Monday, just two weeks later, district spokesman Kyle Kennedy refused to provide any specifics on the contract language, suggesting instead that The Capitolist file a formal public records request to obtain a copy of the contract. When pressed on whether the contract had been updated to align with state law, Kennedy refused three times to provide a direct answer and repeatedly directed The Capitolist to a public records request form.

Public records requests are often seen as a last resort for media outlets due to their slow processing times and high potential costs. Typically, when only basic or updated information is needed, government officials provide it directly without requiring formal requests – particularly in cases where there is high public interest, such as a school bus camera program. In cases where documents are known to exist and are easily accessible, the refusal to share them typically raises questions about transparency and accountability.

The contract in question appears to directly violate Florida Senate Bill 994, which was passed earlier this year and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. The bill explicitly bans payment structures based on the number of violations detected by school bus camera systems, stating, “A private vendor or manufacturer may not receive a fee of remuneration based upon the number of violations detected through the use of a school bus infraction detection system.”

Seemingly at odds with the explicit language of the law, both Polk County officials and Verra Mobility have maintained that their agreement is legal, pointing to internal “business rules” that filter incidents before submission to law enforcement. But legal experts say the county’s so-called “business rules” are incapable of making the contract legal because the variable payments are obviously and directly correlated with the quantity of traffic infractions. For the contract to be legal under Florida law, the experts say, Verra Mobility can only collect fixed payments that cover things such as the cost of maintenance and installation.

The district’s reluctance to share the updated contract language only heightens concerns about compliance. The refusal to provide straightforward answers raises questions about the district’s commitment to transparency and whether they are taking the necessary steps to ensure their contract adheres to state law.

Drivers, parents and taxpayers in Polk County should be aware that the program – whether compliant with state law or not –  is set to start issuing citations on September 24.