A new tax might be passed that will change teachers’ lives in Hillsborough County as we know it. It is called the Millage referendum. This would increase the already low salary teachers receive. But this referendum will hinder the lives of homeowners.
“Teachers pay in Florida is unfair, I think they should get paid more,” Electra Phelps, a freshman, said.
As of recent times there has been a mass number of teacher shortages, and it is hoped that the referendum will change this dilemma and increase teachers’ salaries. They will do this by making every homeowner pay a dollar for every thousand dollars they pay in homeowner’s taxes. This caused many to be enraged due to them not wishing to pay.
This referendum was proposed at the last school board meeting before school started. The school board members all agreed to put this on Nov. ballot. This came after the school board tried to pass this referendum two years ago and it lost by 600 votes. Since then, we have seen a major drop in teachers’ salaries but also the number of teachers. If this referendum does pass, it will be a step in the right direction in fixing these kinds of issues.
“Hopefully this referendum will change the issue with teachers pay,” Phelps, said.
This ballot proposal came after learning that Hillsborough County is one of the counties in FL where teachers are paid under the state’s average salaries. Also, FL was ranked in the 48 percentiles with teachers pay. This outrages some teachers because they believe they should get paid more.
Many people have asked why now? Why are they finally trying to pass this ballot after many years of teachers being unfairly underpaid? Superintendent Van Ayers cleared up all the backlash he was getting after two years of trying to pass this referendum. Ayers explained that he has seen other counties in FL passing the Millage Referendum and he sees a major change it has made in the lives of teachers. He is hoping that it will do the same for the teachers in Hillsborough County and change the problems that have gotten progressively worse when it comes to the career of teaching.
With the record number of 437 vacancies when it comes to teaching in Hillsborough, the superintendent and the school board are hoping that this Millage will lessen the already rising number. This upcoming ballot shows hope for many teachers.
