Pasco County voters will vote on November 3 to determine whether to renew a property tax that generates millions of dollars annually for school employee salaries. Supporters, including former administrators and teachers, argue the funding is essential for attracting and retaining qualified staff by competing with neighboring districts. The referendum proposes continuing a tax rate of approximately one dollar per thousand dollars of taxable property value for another four years. Opponents question why the district cannot redirect funds from its existing 2.3 billion dollar budget instead of asking homeowners to pay an additional tax. District officials warn that without the renewal, eligible school employees could face a twelve percent pay cut, potentially impacting teacher retention rates which currently stand at ninety-nine percent occupancy. The proposed measure would also allocate five percent of the revenue toward school safety initiatives while supplementing salaries for teachers and other district staff.
Key Points:
- The referendum proposes a property tax of approximately $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value.
- A homeowner with a taxable property value of $300,000 would pay approximately $300 per year or $25 per month.
- District officials warn that without the funding, eligible school employees could see their pay reduced by about 12%.
- The proposed renewal would allow 5% of the revenue to go toward school safety.
- Voters originally approved this tax in 2022 to help schools compete with neighboring districts.
