Central Florida school property tax referendums passed easily Tuesday despite concerns that voter anti-tax sentiment could put those ballot measures at risk.
With most precincts reporting, the measures passed with at least 64% of voters saying yes to paying slightly more to support their local public schools.
Lake, Orange and Osceola county school districts asked voters this November to approve property taxes to help raise millions of dollars for public education. The school tax proposals in each county passed by large margins, ensuring millions in funding to school districts as they weather steep enrollment drops and the accompanying reduction in state per-pupil money.
Before the election, district leaders said they were concerned anti-tax sentiment from the statewide Amendment 3, a proposal to cut property taxes on homesteaded properties, could impact how people voted on school taxes. As of 7:30 p.m., the vote on Amendment 3 was too close to call.
Orange County Public School’s one-mill tax referendum, first approved in 2010, has easily won re-approval every four years since. On Tuesday, about 79% of Orange voters chose to renew the tax, which is projected to generate about $255 million this year to fund hundreds of teacher salaries and support extracurricular programs.
Lake County School’s additional 0.25 mill tax, which adds to an existing 0.75 mill school safety tax, passed with about 69% of voters approving. The district said the estimated $49 million generated by the tax would go toward teacher pay increases.
The School District of Osceola County’s new one-mill property tax won with about 64% of voters choosing to approve the new tax. The tax is expected to raise about approximately $65 million, according to district leaders.
Osceola faces a $100 million budget shortfall and has drained most of its reserve funds. The district has already cut almost 800 positions over the last two school years to stay afloat.
The approved one-mill taxes represent an extra $1 paid on every $1,000 of assessed property value.
Central Florida’s school districts, like many in the state, are struggling financially as enrollment continues to decline. District officials blame declining birth rates, a slower housing market, the popularity of Florida’s state-funded voucher program — which provides scholarships for private schools or homeschooling services — and the country’s immigration crackdown for the smaller number of students now attending public schools.
Without the funds, district leaders warned school districts would have to make massive cuts to teaching staff, extracurricular programs and school safety.