The Hillsborough County School's quest to get a tax referendum on the November ballot has been upheld by an appellate court, affirming the decision by a lower court. This legal confirmation ensures that voters will have the chance to decide on the one mill tax increase, which, if approved, is slated to generate an estimated $177 million a year principally for teacher pay raises. The ruling, a win for the school board, came after a partisan split amongst Hillsborough County commissioners attempted to delay the referendum to the 2026 midterms, a move that set the stage for the court's involvement.
According to a WFLA report, the Second District Court of Appeals sided with the lower court's ruling that the school board has the sole authority to decide which ballot a referendum appears on. Superintendent Van Ayres reacted to the decision, saying, “They sent a clear message today that this decision will be up to the residents of Hillsborough County... Over the next few months, it will be our responsibility to educate the community on the need for the additional funding and how the money will be spent to ensure every student in our district has the best classroom experience possible.”
The issue has its detractors, with some residents like Ann Sitlin firmly against the tax increase. "They should get more pay but not out of our money," Sitlin told WFLA. The legal tussle centered around which governmental body had the final say in determining the timing and inclusion of the referendum, an issue that is now seemingly resolved by the appellate court's ruling.
The appeals court determined that granting county commissioners discretion in this matter would undermine the school board’s authority to set additional millage and control the content of the ballot measure. According to WUSF, the referendum is now confirmed for the November 5 ballot, bringing the county closer to addressing critical funding and educational issues.
