Investing In Students
Thanks to Our Community!
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Thanks to the voters of Hillsborough County for the passage of our millage referendum for students, providing a critical investment in the future of Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS).
When will the funds be available?
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Property owners will be able to see the added one mill in their Truth In Millage (TRIM) report from the Property Appraiser’s office before it appears on their actual property tax bill they will receive in October of 2025. Property owners will start paying property taxes in November and the school district will start receiving funds in January of 2026.
Where Will the Funds Go?
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The approved millage will generate approximately $177 million annually, providing a portion to Charter schools as per state statute.
HCPS is dedicating their portion of the funds to recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and expanding academic enrichment programs for students at all grade levels.
- Teachers would receive a salary supplement of $6,000 more a year, with $3,000 more for support staff such as bus drivers and student nutrition workers, and $6,000 more for administrators such as principals and assistant principals. These funds are taxed as salary, not as a bonus, and will be applied to their Florida Retirement System (FRS).
- Expanding academic programs that include extended learning and the arts, college and career readiness, athletics and P.E., and extending VPK to a full day, at no cost to families, for nearly 2,000 students within the county.
Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) has reached a tentative agreement with employees represented by the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association (HCTA) and the Hillsborough School Employees Federation (HSEF) covering the implementation of the revenue to be earned as a result of the successful passage of a millage referendum approved by 67% of voters on the 2024 General Election ballot. The agreement results in 92% of revenue being utilized for employee compensation in the form of supplemental pay to all full-time, active employees and 8% of revenue being utilized for educational programs. This millage will be effective for the 2025-2026 school year and continue through June 30, 2029.
Transparency and Accountability
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We are committed to transparency and accountability in using these funds. We will provide:
- Annual Reports: Published reports detailing how the funds are being used and the impact on our schools.
- Community Oversight Committee: A committee of community members, parents, and staff will oversee spending to ensure funds are allocated responsibly and effectively.
Investing In Students
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The funds from the millage referendum will allow us to compete on behalf of our students.
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This website is intended to educate the public on the millage referendum. In proposing a millage referendum to voters, our district has a responsibility to educate the public on the vital needs a millage would address, how millage revenue would be invested to positively impact students and our community, and the transparency and accountability measures in place to ensure that impact is delivered. Section 106.011, Florida Statutes, both precludes the school district from expending taxpayer funds for a political advertisement or other communications sent to electors concerning a referendum and specifically allows the following from the school district to inform the public: “reporting on official actions of the local government’s governing body in an accurate, fair, and impartial manner; posting factual information on a government website or in printed materials; hosting and providing information at a public forum; providing factual information in response to an inquiry; or providing information as otherwise authorized or required by law.”