LARGO, Fla. — By a vote of 7-0 on Tuesday, The Pinellas County School Board unanimously approved moving forward with asking voters to renew and increase a property tax to further support schools and teachers this November.
Pinellas County voters have supported a school referendum every four years since 2004, which has helped supplement teachers’ salaries and fund school arts, music and tech programs.
In the ballot language approved by the board, voters will be asked to up the existing 0.5 mill operating budget to 1.0 mill. Meaning a homeowner with a property, tax-valued at $200,000, would pay $200 per year, up from the $100 they’ve paid previously.
“This referendum is tax money, it’s controlled locally, it’s voted on locally, and its stays local,” said Pinellas School Board member Dawn Peters. “We’re putting it in the hands of voters to decide.”
Advocates say an increase in funding is needed to help attract and retain top-quality teachers, as districts grapple with shortages and higher costs of living.
“We will continue the recruitment and retainment of teachers as the major component of the referendum it has been that way for 20 years and will continue to be that way,” said Pinellas Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick.
About $6000 from Pinellas teachers’ salaries came from the tax last year, if the increase is approved by voters that would get bumped up to $11,000.
For the first time, school support staff like nurses, security guards, bus drivers and more would also get a bump in pay.
“All of those people are so important to the educational system,” said CEO of the Pinellas Education Foundation Kim Jowell, one of seven member organizations whose representatives make up the Independent Citizens Referendum Oversight Committee.
The committee oversees the 10s of millions of dollars it generates to ensure it gets spent properly.
“Every dollar is accounted for. [The ICROC] meets every 90 days, they do an annual report, and it shows the profound impact,” Jowell added. “I would encourage anybody to go check out those reports and see how their tax dollars have been put into play."
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Beth Rawlins of Citizens for Pinellas Schools has advocated for the referendum since its inception, she says an increase is necessary to keep Pinellas competitive with surrounding districts.
“Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pasco all have sales taxes to fund their schools over and above state funding, they also have impact fees to fund over and above state funding, Pinellas has neither of those things,” Rawlins explained.
Rawlins was among a number of community members who spoke in favor of the ballot measure Tuesday, others included leaders from the Parents Teachers Association, the Pinellas Education Foundation and Indivisible North Pinellas.
“Support these teachers, give them a living wage and increase the pay of instructional staff,” said Tim Conroy.
One public speaker voiced his opposition to the measure. “You squander the money and then you want more, it’s not right, "said Mark Klutho of Largo.
Supporters argue it’s not a huge additional taxpayer cost for what is a major community impact.
The ballot language is now heading to Pinellas County commissioners for ballot placement.
If voters don’t approve of it in November, the school will not only lose the increase in funding, but the 0.5 mill in supplement funding they’ve collected every year for 20 years.