Hillsborough advocates get a jump on campaign for special school tax
Ahead of Tuesday’s school board vote, the group stated their case for new funding to pay more competitive salaries. A coalition of Hillsborough County civic groups has begun a campaign for a special tax that would fund higher pay for teachers. The referendum would ask Hillsborough voters if they approve of a property tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable value. For a home assessed at $306,000, minus a $25,000 homestead exemption, that works out to about 75 cents a day. Supporters argue that the money would help keep up with other districts in the Tampa Bay area and statewide that already have similar taxes. The tax, estimated at $177 million a year, would increase employee pay with teachers and administrators receiving a raise of $6,000. However, the school board has not committed to a referendum.
Published : a month ago by Marlene Sokol in
A coalition of Hillsborough County civic groups on Thursday urged the public — and a divided school board — to get behind a special tax that would fund higher pay for teachers.
School board members are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a November referendum that would ask Hillsborough voters if they approve of a property tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable value. For a home assessed at $306,000, minus a $25,000 homestead exemption, that works out to about 75 cents a day.
Supporters say Hillsborough schools need the money to keep up with other districts in the Tampa Bay area and statewide that already have similar taxes and can pay higher salaries to employees who are in short supply.
Anna Corman, interim chief executive of the Hillsborough Education Foundation, said at a news conference that 10,000 students started the current school year without full-time teachers — a statistic that district leaders also have begun to use.
“We can do much better for our students,” Corman said.
The shortage also exists among bus drivers, who are doing double runs that cause students to arrive late to class, she said. “We’re talking about entire busloads of kids.”
Speakers also included Ellen Lyons, vice president of advocacy for the county PTA/PTSA, and Ed Narain, chairperson-elect of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Though the school board has not committed to a referendum, the advocates acknowledged they wanted to get started on a campaign they hope will have a different outcome than a similar tax drive had in 2022.
The earlier referendum was close enough to trigger a recount and eventually lost by 591 votes. It was blessed by just four of the seven school board members.
When the current board met recently at a work session, three of the members did not take a clear position on the proposed tax. In public appearances, even those who supported the tax in 2022 are choosing their words carefully, often saying they want the measure on the ballot so voters can decide.
But organizers of Thursday’s announcement said they already see differences this time when it comes to grassroots support.
“The public is learning about this already and they are already engaged,” said Grayson Kamm, a former Hillsborough school district spokesperson who is vice president at Catalyst Communications Group, which assists the district with its messaging.
Lyons, of the PTA/PTSA, said she sees a difference in “the district’s relationship with the community. There is more trust now than there was two years ago.”
She also commended the district for transparency in its plans for spending proceeds of the proposed tax, estimated at $177 million a year. More than 90% of the money would boost employee pay. Teachers and administrators would see a raise of $6,000 while support employees like cafeteria workers and bus drivers would get an additional $3,000.
While the school district did not have a role in Thursday’s event, it was staged across the street from Bay Crest Elementary School. The speakers said many students there are taught by substitutes because there are so many vacant positions.
“I don’t know about you, but I did not do my finest learning when we had a substitute teacher,” said education foundation chairperson Chris Taylor. “And I was a goodie-goodie.”
The speakers also included Shonda McGloun, a parent from a Hillsborough charter school, IDEA Victory. The charter community is an important constituency, making up 17% of the district’s enrollment. State law calls for charter schools, which are tax-funded by privately run, to share in the proceeds of referendum dollars.
“Children in our charter schools have a wide range of needs,” McGloun said. “Don’t we owe it to them to ensure that they receive the best education that we can provide for them?”