The Pasco County School Board is requesting voters renew a one mil property tax referendum in November that funds increased pay for teachers and district employees. The referendum, first approved by 58% of voters in the August 2022 primary election, is set to expire in 2027 but the board wants a four-year extension.
Since implementation three years ago, the referendum has generated millions in additional revenue and now accounts for 12% of employee pay. Teachers receive about $5,000 extra annually while support staff get $3,000 more each year. Deputy Superintendent Elizabeth Kuhn told the school board Tuesday that the funding has dramatically reduced vacant positions from 314 teacher vacancies at the start of the 2022-2023 academic year to just 55 at the beginning of this school year.
“It used to be that lots of kids started the school year without an assigned teacher,” Kuhn said during her presentation. However, the district still struggles with transportation, maintaining 39 vacant bus driver positions despite raising hourly pay from $13.65 to $18.50. Pasco’s bus driver wages remain below neighboring counties including Hernando at $19.80, Hillsborough at $18.74, and Pinellas at $22 per hour.
Kuhn emphasized that numerous surrounding counties have passed or renewed similar referendums since 2022. Without renewal, she warned Pasco would rank at the bottom among all surrounding counties for employee pay, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, and Hernando. “To remain competitive, this referendum is critical to maintain that advantage,” Kuhn stated. Under the referendum structure, 95% of funds support employee salaries while 5% goes toward school safety initiatives.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
