HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A legal fight is now set between two unlikely opponents: the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and the Hillsborough County School Board.
Some school board members felt they had no choice but wage the fight as they try to raise salaries for teachers and other staff.
In April, the school board voted to put a tax increase on the November ballot.
But in a surprise 4-3 vote last week, county commissioners decided instead to place the tax referendum on the November 2026 ballot, frustrating some school board members.
“This is unbelievable, people," school board member Shake Washington said during the Tuesday meeting. "And you know what? I’m pissed.”
According to the district, the tax increase would fund increased pay for teachers, support staff, assistant principals, and principals to make Hillsborough County Public Schools competitive with surrounding counties. As it stands, the county is currently not up to par with others, making it harder to keep teachers and recruit staff.
The referendum would add one mill to property taxes in Hillsborough County, which would cost a typical homeowner about $281 per year, or 75 cents per day. The school district estimates the millage would raise about $177 million annually to support Hillsborough’s students.
The district requested an expedited review by the court.
Read the full lawsuit:
Hillsborough Schools Lawsuit by ABC Action News
Commissioners and even some school board members like Patti Rendon feel the law allows for the delay.
“The statutes gave the authority, and they gave the authority to the county commission to decide when it goes on the ballot," she said.
The school district, though, thinks differently, which is why it is moving forward with the emergency lawsuit.
“This is a stance to protect the statutory of our school board and to advocate for what’s best for our students," said Superintendent Van Ayres.
The initial move to kill the tax referendum vote this year left Ayres "shocked."
"It's puzzling why four county commissioners are taking the choice out of the hands of the voters," Ayres said during a press conference after the commission's vote last week. "We will do everything in our power to make sure it's on the ballot on November 5."
The assigned judge will set the timeline for the Board of County Commissioners to respond and for the judge's decision on the matter. The Supervisor of Elections must receive the ballot language by August 20.
Kate Bentley, a past valedictorian at Plant High School and current student at Princeton University, supports the legal fight to place the referendum on the ballot this year.
She says Hillsborough County teachers need better pay as soon as possible.
“The district right now is struggling to keep teachers in their positions, and students are struggling to follow the coursework with so much turnover," Bentley said.
Commissioner Joshua Wostal, meanwhile, maintains commissioner had the right and legal authority to delay the referendum's placement on the ballot.
Though some have described the move as undemocratic, he strongly disagrees.
