TAMPA, Fla. — Parents and community leaders are speaking up on a millage referendum for Hillsborough County Schools.

Those in favor say the millage would support students by increasing pay for teachers and staff while also expanding academic programs. However, it’s already been on the ballot before and voters narrowly rejected it. 

What You Need To Know

  • Parents and local business leaders joined members of the Hillsborough Education Foundation Thursday outside of Bay Crest Elementary School to voice support for a millage referendum

  • Those in favor say the millage would support students by increasing pay for teachers and staff while also expanding academic programs

  • It is estimated the millage would cost a typical homeowner $281 annually, but would increase the income of the average teacher by 11%

On Thursday, parents and local business leaders joined members of the Hillsborough Education Foundation outside of Bay Crest Elementary School in support of a millage referendum, and to urge the school board to include the referendum on the November ballot for voters.

The school district’s plan includes a $6,000 supplement for teachers and school leaders, as well as a $3,000 supplement for support staff, like bus drivers.

According to information from the district, the millage would cost a typical homeowner $281 annually. And Hillsborough County could not be alone — Pasco, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties already have a millage in place.

“All of these counties are able to pay their teachers far more than what we get paid here in Hillsborough,” says Nikki Rivera, the Tampa Bay regional organizer with Families for Strong Public Schools. “What happens because of that is teachers leave Hillsborough County to go a county over to work. We continue to struggle with the teacher shortage here in Hillsborough and it’s drastically worse than the counties around us.” 

The district estimates that projected supplements from the millage could increase the income of the average teacher by 11%. 

“We need the school board to go ahead and approve this, get it on the ballot, and let the people of Hillsborough County support their kids,” said Shonda McGloun, whose daughter is a seventh grader at IDEA Victory College Prep.

“I wanted to get involved because I believe in a strong education for our kids,” McGloun added. “My daughter has had good mentors and teachers, and when she has that, her education grows and she shines.”

According to the Hillsborough Education Foundation, there are about 422 teacher vacancies across the district. With not enough teachers around, McGloun said learning can be disrupted.

“My daughter has had plenty of substitute teachers,” McGloun said. “It does impact our kids when they’re trying to learn. It makes them not want to go to school because they don’t have that teacher they can depend on and have a close relationship with to get that education.”

With not enough pay, McGloun says, teachers are forced to look elsewhere.

“Teachers are dedicated and they love their kids and they love what they do, but, at the end of the day, they have to afford to be able to live in the county and love what they do," she said. "This millage passing can give Hillsborough County the opportunity to pay our teachers to stay here and educate our kids."

The Hillsborough County School Board is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to place a millage referendum on the November ballot.