3:25 p.m. update: The Hillsborough County School Board wants to ask voters if they'll pay more in property tax so the county can better pay teachers.
Based on a judge's decision Monday, the board got its wish, despite objections from County Commissioners to delay the measure.
The issue will now appear on November's ballot.
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TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Van Ayres says he expects a decision Monday on an appeal to adding a teacher pay increase referendum to November’s ballot.
Last week, the Hillsborough County commission followed a judge’s order and voted to place the tax referendum on the ballot.
What You Need To Know
- Last week, a Hillsborough circuit judge ruled 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 STORIES on the ballot measure
However, commissioners are still fighting in court to delay asking voters to pay $1 per every $1,000 in taxable property value for two years.
The school district says the bulk of the funds from that tax will go toward boosting the salaries of teachers and school support staff.
Some county commissioners say they worry about asking voters to approve two tax increases on a single ballot.
A judge has to rule on Monday because all of this has to be decided by Tuesday, Aug. 20, which is the deadline for items to be printed on the November ballot.
“We need to have that information by Aug. 20 to have this on the November ballot,” said Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer. “Now it is in litigation, and we will do whatever the judge orders us to do at that point.”