Learn More About Pinellas County Schools Referendum from PEF
On November 5, the Pinellas County Schools Referendum will be on the general election ballot for Pinellas County voters. The Referendum supports the recruitment and retention of quality teachers and staff members, strengthens reading, music, and art programs, and provides up-to-date technology.
Local Funding Local Control
Florida is 50th in per-pupil spending from state sources. The Referendum produces funds above and beyond state funding. All Referendum funds remain herein Pinellas County and by law, the Legislature cannot reduce the money our district gets from the state.
When voters enacted the Referendum 20 years ago, Pinellas County Schools was only the second district in the state to have a local tax and produced a distinct advantage in hiring and developing Referendum program areas. At the time, a half mill made Pinellas County Schools stand out. Now, all our surrounding districts have both impact fees and local option sales taxes to support their schools, in addition to millage.
Other districts rely on these types of discretionary taxes to support schools. Pinellas County only has millage. This year, Pinellas voters are being asked to authorize one mill local option property tax. Currently, the average single-family homeowner with a homestead exemption is paying around $110 a year. With the proposed millage increase, that same single-family homeowner would pay about $223 a year, or less than $20 a month.
Accountability and Transparency
An Independent Citizens Referendum Oversight Committee (ICROC) oversees the distribution of funds to ensure that money is spent exactly as voters intended. Every penny collected through the Referendum is locally controlled and benefits Pinellas County teachers and students.
If voters say yes and the Referendum Passes
Based on the 2023-24 tax roll, Pinellas teachers will receive an annual salary stipend of $11, 081 and support personnel will receive $2,910. Funding for art, music, reading and technology will increase by almost 50%, from $12.5 million to $18.7 million.
If voters say no and the Referendum Fails
This funding will stop in July of 2025, and teachers will lose their current supplement of $6,328, again based on the 2023-24 tax roll. Because Referendum money is the primary funding source for art, music, reading and technology programs, the district will have no choice but to make drastic cuts. All programs that exceed minimum state requirements will be in jeopardy.
Learn More: Visit pinellaseducation.org/referendum to learn more about the 2024 Referendum Proposal.