Teacher bonuses are on the line due to Pinellas’ property tax referendum

On Tuesday, Pinellas County voters will have one last chance to decide on a referendum that would revamp existing tax-funded public education and expand it to provide more funding for teacher and support staff bonuses and improved curriculum.

Currently, property owners in Pinellas County pay approximately half a million property tax to public schools, which means property owners pay 50 cents for every $1,000 of assessed value. This tax has been in effect since 2004, when voters initially approved it.

The Pinellas County School Board held a ballot referendum asking to renew the tax and raise the millage rate to 1.0 from 0.5 on May 14, meaning property owners would pay $1 for every $1,000 of assessed the value of their properties.

If passed, the additional tax revenue would fund enhanced arts, reading and technology programs, increasing available funds from $12.5 million to $18.7 million. The increased rate will also increase teachers’ additional pay from about $6,000 to $11,000.

Charter schools would also benefit from an additional half-million-dollar property tax.

The passage would also increase state funding and be used to purchase computers and software to support “small group intensive.” reading programsAccording to the School Board, we fund field trips and support band programs.

Referendum expenses are supervised by an independent citizens’ committee, whose reports are publicly available.

Candidate for the School Board Stacy Geier expressed his opposition to the referendum. She said funding teacher salaries and curriculum is important, but the district should find ways to achieve those goals through revenue sources already available.

If voters don’t approve the tax, it will end in June and teachers will lose the current teacher bonuses, also known as supplemental pay, they currently receive. District officials fear the loss could lead to a mass exodus of teachers unwilling to accept what would essentially be a pay cut.

Precedent suggests that the referendum could easily pass. When it was first presented to voters in 2004, the property tax received about 63% support. Four years ago, when voters were asked to extend it, it received about 79% support.

Neighboring Hillsborough County also held a referendum on a ballot measure to increase property taxes to fund public schools. Like Pinellas County, tax will be $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. The $177 million will fund annual allowances of $6,000 for teachers and administrators and $3,000 for support staff. If passed this year, voters would have to re-approve this additional tax in four years.

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Naomi Risch reporting.

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