Raising Teacher Salaries To Be Decided By Pasco Voters During Primary

LAND O' LAKES, FL — Pasco County voters will have an opportunity to increase property and sales taxes to give teachers raises and fund school renovations and other capital improvements at both the Aug. 23 primary and the Nov. 8 general election.

The Pasco County School Board voted unanimously last week to place a referendum on the August primary ballot to increase property taxes to provide raises for teachers, bus drivers and other school support staff.

The ballot referendum for a property tax increase of up to 1 mil would raise up to $37 million each year for four years and would amount to about $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value for property owners in Pasco County.

When the school board voted to move forward with the property tax referendum at its April 19 meeting, the intent was to place the property tax referendum on the general election ballot along with the Pennies for Pasco sales tax increase ballot initiative to fund school capital improvements.

However, the board decided to move the referendum to the primary election to avoid confusing voters.

Parent Erin Pike said the school board is being deceptive moving the referendum to the August primary election, calling it a "shameless ploy taken from a playbook used over and over again to manipulate votes."

She said, typically, a third of voters show up for primaries than vote in the general election.

"This makes it cheaper and easier for the district to reach likely voters with targeted mailers and get the votes they need to pass (the referendum). You will not be getting the voice of Pasco voters," she said. "If you allow this to be moved from the general election, you're speaking loud and clear what you support here: money over the voices of those who voted for you and have a choice to do so or not soon."

Pike said she's spoken with many school employees who said they're being pressured to vote for the referendum.

"The district is using the teachers and bus drivers to push this and turn it into an emotional issue," she said, dismissing the argument that the referendum was moved to the primary to avoid confusing voters. "I'm sorry. Pasco voters are not stupid. They know the difference between Pennies for Pasco and a tax increase on our property values."

She said the board is hoping voters "won't realize you want to tax them twice at a time of unprecedented economic challenges and financial hardship."

While resident Chelsi Stahr said she supports raises for teachers, bus drivers and custodial staff, she wondered if a property tax is the best way to achieve that outcome.

"My question is why is it that Pasco spends about $10,000 per student more than both Hillsborough and Hernando County yet we're paid less?" she asked. "I don't agree with it and I think there should be a forensic audit done in the school system to see where funding can be cut, and maybe take it from the extra $10,000 per student rather than put another tax on people."

School board vice chairwoman Megan Harding dismissed the idea that people wouldn't show up at the primary election to vote on a property tax referendum, knowing how important it is to hire and retain qualified teachers.

She said the pay rate for Pasco teachers is lower than all surrounding counties and the salaries for school bus drivers are so low Pasco County can't find enough people willing to drive school buses.

In January, the school district was forced to change the times schools begin and end their days so the transportation department could arrange to have the district's dwindling contingent of bus drivers take on more routes.

She also disputed Stahr's statement that Pasco spends more than surrounding counties on students, saying state data shows spending in Pasco County schools is more than $100 lower per student than the state average.

The board also heard from retired educator Beth Louise Brown, who represents Lift Up Pasco!, a political action committee led by school district retirees that was launched to educate voters about the referendum.

"We don't have a position on the date change because it doesn't really change what we're doing," she said. "We have come out of retirement because we have strong connections to schools, teachers and students. We believe that fully staffed schools and an ample number of bus drivers are just going to make our schools stronger, and we know that, if the entire system is stronger, that benefits the entire community."

She said the Lift Up Pasco! organization plans to educate voters about the referendum.

To that end, the group is hosting a Zoom forum Monday, May 23 from 7 to 8 p.m. to provide information and answer parents' questions about the referendum on the primary ballot.

She said school district experts will present details of the proposal and take questions submitted to a moderator during the Zoom forum.

"We will educate the community with facts and as much information as they feel they need to make an informed vote," she said. "We think we can provide enough information and compelling data so they go to vote equipped with the information they need to completely understand that voting for this referendum will just make the system stronger."

Those wishing to participate must complete the Pasco Advocates PTSA Google form to be admitted into the forum.