Hillsborough County school tax referendum could pass

The tax referendum on the Hillsborough County School Board ballot is expected to pass with 95% of precincts reporting.

Millage will increase property taxes to ensure competitive wages and retain and recruit high-quality teachers and staff. The tax will be in effect for four years, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.

The school district says its annual revenue will be about $177 million.

Property owners will pay $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. The cost of living for a typical homeowner in Hillsborough County will be $281 per year, according to the school district.

Teachers will receive a salary increase of $6,000 per year. Support staff, including bus drivers and student food service workers, will receive $3,000 more per year.

Administrators, including directors and assistant directors, will receive an additional $6,000 per year.

This is exactly the wording that voters saw on their ballots:

Voters in 25 of Florida’s 67 counties approved referendums to provide additional funding to pay teachers and support staff, according to the district’s website. These counties include Manatee, Sarasota, Pasco and Hernando counties.

The last time the referendum reached voters was in 2022, but it was narrowly defeated.