Hillsborough school tax vote headed for recount. Here’s what happens next.

Barring unforeseen events, Tuesday’s referendum on a schools tax in Hillsborough County will go to a recount Friday morning.

Voters cast 110,342 ballots in favor of the tax of $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property value, in a measure intended primarily to increase pay for school employees. They cast 110,961 votes against the tax. The 619-vote difference is 0.28% of the total votes cast, which is within the legal threshold for a mandatory machine recount.

If the difference slips below 0.25%, state law requires a manual recount.

The Hillsborough Canvassing Board will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday to certify the election results. Assuming the current numbers hold, that certification vote will trigger a recount at 10 a.m. Friday.

Results are expected early next week.

This is a developing story and will be updated.