Posted by Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti on 7/17/2024 3:35:00 PM

For Immediate Release

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

(Tampa, Fla. - July 17, 2024) - Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Van Ayres says he will seek approval from the School Board to take appropriate legal action after the Board of County Commissioners this morning refused to place a millage referendum on the November 5, 2024, ballot. The proposed millage is to be used to support students by paying teachers and staff a more competitive wage.

The Hillsborough County School Board approved adding a millage referendum to the ballot during their April meeting. Today, the matter went before the Board of County Commissioners which, according to Florida Statute, has a simple administrative duty and “shall” place the referendum on the ballot. Instead, the Commission voted against doing that.

"We are incredibly disheartened by the County Commission's decision," said Ayres. “We believe our students, teachers and staff deserve better. I understand some individual commissioners are personally opposed to this millage and that’s perfectly fine. But we believe the voters should be the ones to decide this, not four County Commissioners. Local voters expect and deserve this right.”

If approved, the referendum would add one millage to property taxes in Hillsborough County. The typical homeowner would see an increase of $281 a year. Funds would go primarily to increase pay for teachers, staff, assistant principals and principals to make Hillsborough County Public Schools more competitive with surrounding counties, most of which already have voter-approved millages. Charter schools would also receive funds from the millage.

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

Students in Hillsborough County go back to class on August 12, less than a month away. The School District anticipates starting the year with approximately 500 teacher vacancies.

The superintendent has now scheduled a Special-Called School Board meeting for Tuesday, July 23 at 2 p.m. to authorize school district attorneys to seek all appropriate legal action to ensure the millage referendum is on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The district will be asking a judge to compel the County Commission to do their statutorily required duty.