On November 5, you will have the Pinellas County Schools Referendum on your ballot, which will support the recruitment and retention of quality teachers and staff members; strengthen reading, music and art programs; and provide up-to-date technology.
Our community and workforce require us to have students who graduate ready to pursue post-secondary education or skillfully enter the workforce. The 2024 Referendum is essential for us to keep high-quality education and building a pipeline of tomorrow’s workforce.
Pinellas County Schools has significantly raised academic excellence, earning an A district grade from the Florida Department of Education. Earning an A was possible because of this investment and we need to keep it going.
Continuing this momentum will allow our district to offer competitive salaries for quality teachers and support staff, expand programs, and continue elevating academic achievement. Learn more here on the district’s site about the Referendum.
Since the referendum was first approved by the citizens of Pinellas County, the Independent Citizens Referendum Oversight Committee (ICROC) has overseen the expenditure of funds to ensure they are spent as voters intended.
The committee prepares regular reports for the School Board, which are available to the public.
ICROC has seven members each appointed from the following organizations:
In the most recent census report, Florida is below the national average and ranked 50th in per-pupil spending from State sources. The Referendum generates additional money beyond state funding. All Referendum dollars stay here in Pinellas County, and by law, the Legislature cannot reduce the funds our district receives from the state.
Our neighboring and surrounding school districts receive funding to support their schools through sales tax, impact fees, and millage. Other local districts rely on these types of discretionary taxes to support schools. Pinellas only has millage.
More than 1,000 Pinellas County Schools teachers reside in other counties that have increased their millage. We want to retain the talented teachers we have and recruit the best educators to maintain being an A district and elevating student achievement. Our schools are worth the investment!
How Does This Impact Me?
Based on 2024 property values, the average single-family homeowner with a homestead exemption would pay $223 a year, or less than $20 a month. It is important to note your property value is based on your home taxable assessment value, not the value of your home as listed on Zillow or other real estate websites.
$ 223 Average annual cost to single-family homeowners with a homestead exemption
>$ 20 Average monthly cost to single-family homeowners with a homestead exemption
