The post Jacksonville City Council sets up November vote to continue school property tax appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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Jacksonville voters will get a chance to vote in November to raise their property taxes for schools even as they can lower them to support other parts of the government.
The Duval County School Board’s desire to get a tax extension referendum on the ballot was fulfilled Tuesday when the measure was discharged from committee and voted up unanimously by the Jacksonville City Council.
Republican Raul Arias said he supported the deferral motion in last week’s Finance Committee because he wanted more information on the tax, since he wasn’t on the Council when it was first passed. But after meeting with School Board members, union representatives, and Superintendent Chris Bernier, his “heart was moved” and he supports discharge because people in the United States “have the right to vote.”
“Let the community decide what they want to do,” Arias advised.
“If you say no to this, you’re saying no to children,” said Democrat Tyrona Clark-Murray, ahead of the motion to discharge.
Ordinance 2026-387 would allow for voters to decide to extend for four years a one mill ad valorem tax to boost teacher pay, extending a levy first approved back in 2022, when the General Counsel said state law compelled the City Council to put the tax hike on the ballot.
City Council members spoke in favor of putting the measure on the ballot.
“This is the American way,” said Republican Mike Gay.
Republican Ron Salem said he spoke with the Superintendent and was sold.
Arias spoke again, saying that school professionals need to be able to “spend time with their families” rather than fretting about this measure getting on the ballot.
President-elect Nick Howland opposed the original push in 2022, saying there was other funding, but now “funds have been depleted” from the American Rescue Act.
The property tax extension would continue a tax agreed to in 2022 if a majority approves it in November, should it ultimately make the ballot.
That threshold is less than the 60% required for state ballot initiatives, such as the one that could increase the homestead property tax amendment on the same ballot that would increase the exemption and take nearly $300 million out of city revenues.
The post Jacksonville City Council sets up November vote to continue school property tax appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
