The Pinellas property tax referendum puts teacher pay bonuses at stake

Voters in Pinellas County will get their last chance Tuesday to decide on a referendum that would renew and expand existing public education tax funding to provide more funding for teacher and support staff bonuses and improved curricula.

Currently, property owners in Pinellas County pay a half mil property taxes to support public schools, meaning property owners pay 50 cents for every $1,000 of assessed value. That tax has been around since 2004, when voters initially approved it.

The Pinellas County School Board has put a referendum on the ballot asking to renew the tax and increase the millage rate from 0.5 to 1.0 on May 14, meaning property owners will receive $1 per $1,000 to the estimated value of their property.

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

Charter schools would also benefit from the implementation of the additional half-mill property tax.

Passage would also contribute to state funding and be used to purchase computers and software to support “intensive small groups.” read programs,” funds field trips and support band programs, according to the school board.

Spending on referendums is monitored by an independent citizens’ committee, whose reports are publicly available.

School board candidate Stacy Geier has spoken out against the referendum. She has said that funding for teacher compensation and curriculum is important, but the district must find ways to achieve those goals through already available revenue streams.

If voters don’t approve the tax, it would end in June and teachers would lose the current teacher bonuses, known as supplemental pay, they currently receive. District officials worry that losses could lead to a mass exodus of teachers unwilling to take a pay cut.

Precedent suggests the referendum could easily go ahead. The property tax received about 63% support when it was first brought to voters in 2004. When voters were asked to extend the tax four years ago, it received about 79% support.

Neighboring Hillsborough County is also holding a referendum on voting to raise property taxes to fund public schools. Like Pinellas County, the tax would be $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. The $177 million would go toward funding annual $6,000 supplements for teachers and administrators and $3,000 supplements for support staff. Voters would have to reapprove this additional tax within four years if it passes this year.

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Naomi Risch reporting.

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