MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — In a landslide vote, Manatee County voters on Tuesday agreed to renew the school district's referendum of one-mill property tax.
This means for the next three years, the school district will keep getting the additional $46 million revenue stream specifically earmarked for school program enhancements and staff salary supplements, recruitment and retention incentives.
The referendum passed with 69.27 percent or 47,206 total votes for the continuation. A total of 20,946 or 30.73 percent of people voted against the measure.
In all, 68,267 ballots were cast, making voter turnout 24.72 percent.
The added tax costs the average homeowner $175 annually.
The nod from voters at the polls is a sign of community support for the district's progress since the tax was enacted in 2018, especially in the area of academics.
