| Board of County Commissioners and Hillsborough School Board at odds over placing voter referendum on November 5th ballot
On July 23rd, the Hillsborough County School Board approved the Superintendent’s request to begin a legal challenge to place its proposed one millage increase for education funding on the November 5th ballot. The legal action came less than a week after the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners voted to delay it until 2026.
Hillsborough School Superintendent Van Ayres contends that commissioners overstepped the legal boundaries of their authority, and that the referendum must go to voters this November, as approved by HCPS Board in April 2024. The proposed millage increase to property taxes would be used to pay teachers a more competitive wage and fund operational costs in the school district. HCPS is currently the 7th largest school district in the nation and facing significant teacher and bus driver shortages. The school board voted and approved the proposed referendum to be included in this November ballot back in April. The BOCC agenda item July 17 was the next step in the process before official placement on the ballot.
The Hillsborough County BOCC maintains it does have the legal authority to schedule the referendum for 2026 because it’s a postponement, not a rejection. As to why it voted to postpone, the BOCC contends that having two tax questions on the same ballot will jeopardize both in the current economic environment. The proposed one millage increase to property taxes for schools is separate from the Community Investment Tax (CIT) renewal that is already on the November 5 ballot. Commissioners say the renewal of CIT this November is the priority.
Local communities across Hillsborough County stand to lose millions of dollars in funding if voters do not renew CIT, which is set to expire in 2026. Since 1996, CIT has produced more than $2.3 billion in funding for infrastructure, public safety, parks, public utilities, libraries and schools, among others. Paid for by residents and visitors to our region, CIT has alleviated the pressure to rely on property taxes. Our Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to support renewal of CIT and urging Chamber Members to vote in favor of the 15-year term on the ballot. Although this falls short of the 30-year CIT renewal our Chamber advocated for and believes is best for our community, our position on the need to renew CIT remains unchanged. Having no CIT funding for infrastructure projects is far worse.
At the same time, our legislative agenda supports the need for adequate education funding. We urge local leaders to work together to address the needs of residents and offer our support in that process. Hillsborough County residents are in this difficult position because our leaders have not been taking a long-term approach to problem solving and growth. |
