The Hillsborough County School Board on Thursday approved a $4.34 billion budget for the 2024-25 school year and a property tax rate slightly lower than the current year’s level.
Homeowners will be charged $5.39 for every taxable $1,000 in property, down a cent from the current rate. That decrease takes into account rising property values. For a $425,000 home with a homestead exemption, the proposed tax amounts to $2,155.20.
A second reading and vote will take place on Sept. 5.
Romaneir Johnson, the district’s chief financial officer, told the board that the district is closing its books on the current school year with $370 million in reserves in its general fund. That’s more than a fifth of revenues, and well above the levels the district experienced several years ago, when it was in danger of state receivership.
That reserve level is expected to drop to about 15%, though, after the district settled its employee contracts earlier than usual. The raises and pay supplements the district agreed to included $37.6 million that is considered an ongoing expense. That spending tipped the scales so that the budget is showing a spending deficit of $22.8 million.
“I just want you to know that the budget is fluid, and it will change,” Johnson said.
Among the variables: Charter schools, which get state funding but are run independently, make their own enrollment projections every year. For the coming year, the charter schools predicted they will serve more than 41,000 of Hillsborough’s public school students.
But in past years, the true numbers have been considerably lower than projections.
The budget approved does not reflect district leaders’ hopes for an additional property tax.
The school board decided this year to ask voters in November to approve an additional $1 per $1,000 in property value to boost employee pay, as is done in most neighboring school districts.
The Hillsborough County Commission moved in July to postpone the referendum until 2026 or later, with two commissioners saying they did not want to see residents struggle more than they already are with escalating costs of living. The district sued the county, and a circuit judge on Friday ruled in favor of the district, ordering the county to meet no later than Aug. 13 to adopt a resolution that would place the school district’s property tax referendum on the ballot.
Advocates of the tax held a media event earlier Thursday at the teachers union hall. Participants included state Sen. Darryl Rouson, Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar, leaders of the county PTA and several students.
“Talk about crowded classrooms,” said Malachi Brown, 17, who is studying cybersecurity at Middleton High School. “I don’t think you all understand, 30 kids to an AP precalculus class is a lot. Especially after PE, you know what I’m saying?”
Brown said he appreciates substitute teachers, but “there’s nothing like having a great teacher that’s qualified, and you can feel it. Even the students who may not think they care about our teachers, they can feel the difference.”
The gathering was organized by a political action committee called Hillsborough Students Deserve Better, with assistance from the Tucker/Hall public relations firm. The committee plans to knock on doors and use signs, phone calls, texts and digital messaging.
“We’re going to be doing everything that we need to,” said Rob Kriete, president of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association.
