CLEARWATER -- In addition to the Presidential, Senate, state legislative, and constitutional amendment issues on Tuesday's (5th) ballot, there are local votes on school taxes in several Tampa Bay area counties.

Hillsborough's has gotten the most attention. Voters there will decide whether to create a one-mill property tax intended to raise salaries for teachers, bus drivers and administrators, as well as expanding arts, college and career readiness, and P.E. They'll also vote on whether to renew the Community Investment Tax. A portion of that tax (5%) will go to schools.

Pinellas County voters will decide whether to renew a current school property tax. The renewal would increase the tax from a half-mill to one mill, doubling from $50 to $100 on each $100,000 of assessed value. The increase would allow the district to increase a teacher salary supplement from $6,328 to $11,081 in the next school year. Support staff would receive a supplement of $2,910. Beth Rawlins, chair of Citizens for Pinellas Schools, says that if the renewal fails, the current tax will expire next June 30th with nothing to replace it.

Much of the debate involves a "keeping up with the Joneses" argument that school districts must keep teacher and staff salaries competitive with neighboring districts. Hillsborough's superintendent argues that the county will have a harder time recruiting teachers if a one-mill tax doesn't pass. Advocates for the tax in Pinellas say that their district is the one lagging behind, because it doesn't have revenue from impact fees or local sales taxes.

Hernando County voters are deciding whether to continue a one-mill property tax for four years and a half-cent sales tax for ten years. The property tax was first enacted in 2020 and the sales tax in 2015.

Manatee County and Sarasota County voters will decide whether to renew one-mill property taxes.

Hear about the Pinellas referendum in our Beyond the News podcast below.

Photo: Canva

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