TAMPA, Fla. —  A Hillsborough County judge has ruled that the referendum to ask voters to consider whether a millage referendum can appear on the November 5 ballot can move forward.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Emily Peacock made the ruling that potentially could benefit the school district.

Meanwhile, the county commission is slated to meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. to discuss additional legal recourse.

The referendum would ask voters to approve an $1 increase per $1,000 in property value per home. The funds would be applied toward increases to teachers and support staff.

What You Need To Know

  • MONDAY UPDATE: Hillsborough circuit judge rules tax referendum can appear on Nov. 5 ballot

  • The measure could create a property tax for residents with the money going toward teacher and staff salaries

  • This all has to be wrapped up before Aug. 20, the deadline to get items printed on the November ballot

PREVIOUS STORY: Students and teachers are heading back to school, but in Hillsborough County, an ongoing issue over teacher and employee pay has been the top of some minds.

It’s over a referendum that would create a property tax for residents with the money going toward teacher and staff salaries.

As of Sunday, the issue is not on the ballot.

The fate of the ballot measure is currently in the hands of an appeals court judge, after commissioners expedited an appeal on a ruling that the county could not delay a millage referendum from appearing on this November’s ballot for two years.

Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association Union President Rob Kriete said the referendum is needed to keep the county competitive with surrounding districts.

“Our students need teachers now,” he said. “We’re losing teachers, support professionals, bus drivers, custodians, lunchroom workers. We’re losing them to surrounding districts because they’ve all instituted, they all voted in a referendum like we’re asking now.” 

Chair Ken Hagen said in a previous Board of County Commission meeting, commissioners that voted for the ballot delay understand the school district’s need, but believe this isn’t the time to place a price hike on residents.  

“The CIT (Community Investment Tax) is on the ballot,” he said. “To add a new tax increase on top of the CIT and all of our other increases, I’m deeply concerned we’ll doom both referendums.”

This all has to be wrapped up before Aug. 20.

That’s the deadline to get items printed on the November ballot.