Duval Schools Superintendent Diana Greene wants tax increase for teacher pay, arts, sports

One year after Duval County Public Schools' sales-tax referendum went into effect, Jacksonville residents may be asked to vote on a ballot measure for a 1 mill property tax increase to benefit the school district.

The district is experiencing a teacher shortage "crisis" and needs to improve the experiences it provides to students interested in arts and athletics programs, Superintendent Diana Greene told School Board members Tuesday at a workshop meeting.

In a 22-page packet, the district details how teacher vacancies are at an all-time high — currently totaling around 400 — and how students' experiences play an important role when it comes to student retention rates.

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According to the district, a 1 mill increase would generate an estimated $81.8 million per year. Of that, the majority (65%) would go to boosting teacher salaries, an eighth (12.5%) would go to arts and athletics, one eighth (12.5%) would go to charter schools because of a state law, and the remainder (10%) would go to staff.

The current property tax rate for the city of Jacksonville is 11.4419 mills, which raises about $11.44 in taxes per $1,000 of taxable property value. It has remained the same rate for nine years now.

For context, for the owner of a $125,000 home in Duval County with a $25,000 homestead exemption for school taxes, one mill would add $100 to the annual property tax bill.

In Duval County, the average base salary of $47,458.26 is ranked 40th out of 69 for average teacher salaries statewide. Other large school districts, including Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, use millage supplements to boost their salary amounts, the district said.

Greene said the revenue would also go toward things including:

• New high school turf fields

• Updated athletic facilities

• New football scoreboards

• Repairing and replacing playgrounds

• Updating and upgrading performance spaces

• New musical instruments

• New band uniforms

• Updating dance studios and music studios

In an email to teachers Tuesday afternoon obtained by the Times-Union, Greene told teachers she recommended the property tax increase to board members.

"The board has not voted on this, and there are many details that still need to be worked out," Greene wrote. "I invite you to stay tuned in for more information as it becomes available."

Greene also sent a similarly worded note to City Council members. Council member Rory Diamond posted a screenshot of the email on Twitter, criticizing the move.

"ANOTHER attempt to raise taxes on the hardworking people of Jacksonville," Diamond wrote on Twitter. "This has to stop. Government is full of waste, fraud, and abuse. Let’s try and live within our means? Wasn’t the sales tax increase enough, @DuvalSchools?"

Diamond did not support the half-cent sales tax for the school district, either. A district spokesperson said the sales tax revenue cannot be used for operations, like salaries, only for facility maintenance and upgrades.

Timeline: A half-cent sales tax for Duval County Schools

It's unclear if sales tax revenue could be used for the proposed arts and athletics facility upgrades. Greene added that funding raised from a potential property tax would stay within Duval County and would not be shared with state or federal governments.

The board is expected to vote on Greene's recommendation next month. If they decide to move forward, they will have to determine when the ballot would go out and send that resolution to the City Council, which is supposed to provide administrative approval on ballot measures.

Infamously, the last time the school board called for a special election, it turned into a legal battle between the school district and city of Jacksonville on who had the right to place ballot measures. Ultimately, the groups settled and the school district was allowed to place the measure in the city's 2020 general election, where the sales tax overwhelmingly passed.

According to a draft pitched by Greene, if the board votes to move forward with the measure and City Council approves, the district could expect to see the property tax referendum on general election ballots in August

Emily Bloch is an education reporter for The Florida Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter or email her. Sign up for her newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Superintendent asks Duval School Board for property tax hike in Jacksonville