Hillsborough County Public Schools -

For Immediate Release

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

(Tampa, Fla. - July 23, 2024) – At Tuesday’s Special Called School Board meeting, the Board voted to take legal action against the Board of County Commissioners, asking a judge to order the commissioners to follow through on their statutory duty and place the millage referendum on the November 5, 2024, ballot.

“As Superintendent, it is my responsibility to put our students first. While a judge now considers our request, I encourage everyone in this community to become educated on the positive impact the millage will have on every student in Hillsborough County Public Schools,” said Superintendent Van Ayres.

Information about the millage can be found on our website at 

.

Students in Hillsborough County go back to class on Monday, August 12, less than a month away.

The millage would primarily fund increased pay for teachers, support staff, assistant principals and principals to make Hillsborough County Public Schools more competitive with surrounding counties. Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota, plus 20 other school districts in Florida already have a voter-approved millage. Hillsborough County Public Schools is not on a level playing field when it comes to salaries, making it difficult to retain and recruit staff.

A portion of the money would also be shared with every charter school in the county, based on student enrollment.

The referendum would add one mill to property taxes in Hillsborough County. According to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s Office, the cost to a typical homeowner in Hillsborough would be $281 a year, or about 75 cents a day.

“Every child deserves the best classroom experience possible and that’s what this millage is about. We think it’s reasonable to allow that decision to be made by our local voters,” added Ayres.

The district has asked for an expedited review by the court. The judge assigned will set the timeline for the Board of County Commissioners to respond and for the judge’s decision on the matter. The ballot language must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than August 20.