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ELECTIONS 2022 | Duval Schools property tax increase referendum: What you need to know

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Emily Bloch, Florida Times-Union
·5 min read

Now that voting in Jacksonville has kicked off, you may have seen lawn signs with an apple touting teacher raises. It all goes back to a property tax increase Duval County Public Schools is requesting.

Duval Schools Superintendent Diana Greene says funding from the increase will help the school district stay competitive when it comes to recruiting and retaining student enrollment as well as faculty and staff positions in Jacksonville.

More: Why Duval School leaders believe a property tax increase is necessary

More: Duval Schools Superintendent Diana Greene wants tax increase for teacher pay, arts, sports

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Here's an overview before you head to the polls.

What are voters being asked to approve?

The school district is asking for a 1 mill property tax increase to fund teacher raises as well as funding for school arts and athletics programs across Duval County.

Who supports the tax and why?

The Duval County School Board voted to put the referendum before voters with support from groups including Duval Teachers United. The Jacksonville Public Education Fund also released a statement in support of the property tax increase.

Advocates say the tax will help get Duval Schools teachers paid an amount closer to what they deserve.

In Duval County, the average base salary of $47,458.26 is ranked 40th out of 69 for average teacher salaries statewide.

Are other Florida school districts doing something similar?

Yes. Other large school districts, including Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, use millage supplements to boost their teacher salary amounts.

Voters in 20 school districts in Florida have approved similar millage increases, which school district leaders say raises the stakes if Duval Schools wants to competitively recruit teachers from other areas and retain the ones they already have.

Who's opposed to the tax? Why?

Five city council members — Aaron Bowman, Rory Diamond, Al Ferraro, Randy White and Nick Howland — voted against the referendum in a vote required by the city charter to place it on primary election ballots.

The "no" votes came despite the council's Office of General Counsel advising members that the action was strictly "ministerial" and that the City Council's role is to approve logistics surrounding placing the referendum on ballots.

Diamond and other critics of the tax increase say the school district should move its budget figures around instead of asking community members for more money.

District officials say budget cuts wouldn't come close to the amount of funding needed to adequately supplement all of the district's teachers' salaries.

How much will it cost me?

The district is asking for a 1 mill increase. One mill equals $1 for ever $1,000 of assessed value, minus the $25,000 homestead exemption.

For instance, for the owner of a $125,000 home in Duval County with a $25,000 homestead exemption for school taxes, one mill would add $100 to the annual property tax bill or $8.33 per month. In turn, a home with a value of $300,000 will pay $275 per year or about $23 per month.

Because this is a property tax, it only directly impacts property owners. Renters do not pay property taxes.

The School Board is set to vote on a final budget for the academic year on Sept. 6. To date, the tentative budget has proposed lowering the property tax this year from 5.8 mills to 5.4 mills. If the referendum is approved by voters and the school board finalizes its budget, it will add the 1 mill to the finalized 5.4 mills, equaling a 6.4 mill property tax, or a total of $640 annually in property taxes for the owner of a $125,000 home.

Where will the revenue go?

According to the district, the tax revenue would generate an estimated $81.8 million per year. Of that, the majority (65%) would go to boosting teacher salaries, an eighth (12.5%) would go to arts and athletics, one eighth (12.5%) would go to charter schools because of a state law, and the remainder (10%) would go to staff.

Superintendent Greene said money collected would go toward things like:

  • New high school turf fields

  • Updated athletic facilities

  • New football scoreboards

  • Repairing and replacing playgrounds

  • Updating and upgrading performance spaces

  • New musical instruments

  • New band uniforms

  • Updating dance studios and music studios

As for teacher salaries, all compensation is subject to negotiations with the teachers union, but the district estimates a supplemental bonus of over $5,000 per year for teachers if the referendum passes. To date, the district has reported over 500 teacher vacancies leading up to the new school year.

Who can vote on the referendum?

All Jacksonville voters can vote on the property tax referendum.

What will the ballot language say?

DUVAL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AD VALOREM MILLAGE ELECTION

Shall the Duval County School District levy an ad valorem operating millage of 1 mill annually to attract and retain high-quality teachers and staff through additional compensation, enhance art, music and athletic programs, and provide proportionate funding for charter schools, in order to continue and sustain improvements in the quality of Duval County’s school system.

___ YES, for additional millage

___ NO, against additional millage

What happens next?

If the vote fails, Greene can ask the board to try again next year or they can drop it. If voters approve the referendum, it will go into effect beginning Jan. 1 and remain for the next four years. After that, the board can decide to ask voters to renew it or they can discontinue it.

Where can I find out more information?

The Times-Union has extensively covered the property tax referendum since its inception. Here are some links to review:

You can also visit the school district's campaign website: dcps.duvalschools.org/vote

What dates do I need to know?

Early voting starts Aug. 8. Election day is Aug. 23.

Emily Bloch is a youth culture and education reporter for The Florida Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter or email her. Sign up for her newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: What you need to know about the property tax increase for Duval Schools