Hillsborough Schools Sales Tax Referendum Will Be On November Ballot

The nation's eighth largest school district is seeking money for improvements and new school construction.
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Hillsborough County residents will see a new tax referendum on their November ballots.

Voters will decide if they support a half-cent sales tax to help pay for improvements to the county's public schools.

The Hillsborough County Commission has agreed to allow the referendum after considerable lobbying by the school district, which calls state funding "inadequate."

Florida ranks 41st in the nation in education funding for K-12 schools.

There are more than 230 public schools in Hillsborough County.  According to the school district, some buildings need new roofs and others require major air conditioning repairs or complete replacements.

Revenue would also be used to improve security on campuses, upgrade classroom technology, and equip workshops and classrooms for career and technical workforce training. 

Additionally, money would go towards new school construction. The district reports a need for 32 new schools in the next 15 years due to population growth.

With this vote, there will now be two tax referendums on the ballot in Hillsborough County. The other is a 1-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. 

Copyright 2018 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

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Cathy Carter is the education reporter for WUSF 89.7 and StateImpact Florida.