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Court sides with Hillsborough school district to put teacher pay referendum on November ballot

By , and FOX 13 News Staff
Published  August 19, 2024 7:55am EDT
Hillsborough County
FOX 13 News

Teacher pay referendum will be on November ballot

Aaron Mesmer reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - An appeals court sided with the Hillsborough County school district on Monday, allowing a proposed tax increase aimed at boosting teacher pay to appear on the November ballot for county voters.

The county commission and school board have been at odds over the issue, leading to a lawsuit filed by the district. A judge later ruled in favor of the Hillsborough County Public Schools, which would allow the referendum to go on the ballot.

Commissioners then voted along party lines to file an appeal, with all four Republicans voting in favor of the move, while the three Democratic commissioners voted against it.

PREVIOUS: Hillsborough County commissioners vote to appeal judge's decision to approve teacher pay referendum

The school board initially proposed the referendum as an initiative to increase teacher pay. Superintendent Van Ayres has said all surrounding districts except Polk already have voter-approved millage referendums in place, putting Hillsborough at a competitive disadvantage.

Commissioners, however, voted against the referendum, citing a desire to delay for cash-strapped homeowners and instead put the referendum on the 2026 ballot.

The referendum is expected to be submitted to the supervisor of elections by Tuesday so it can be included on the 2024 ballot.

"We have a great relationship with Hillborough County commissioners. We've had a great relationship for a long time. We didn't agree on this one particular issue, but we look forward to our relationship with them," Ayres said during a news conference on Monday. "We're going to need their help moving along."

The district estimates the referendum would generate about $177 million in revenue for staff salaries, if it's passed by voters.

FOX 13 reached out to Commissioner Josh Wostal, who has led the commission's discussion on delaying the referendum, for comment and to find out if he hopes the commission will ask the Florida Supreme Court for its opinion. As of Monday evening, Wostal had not responded.

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