South Florida school districts are relying on voters to renew funds currently used to supplement teachers' salaries in the upcoming general election.
In Miami-Dade and Broward County, two referendums will be on the ballot in November — already in place in both districts, renewal wouldn't result in any tax increases for voters, according to both districts' websites, but would continue to provide funds to supplement salaries for key staff.
In Miami-Dade, voters chose to approve the referendum in 2018 and 2022, according to the district. A renewal in 2026 would mean an additional four years of funding. Otherwise, it's set to expire June 30, 2027.
Approval of the referendums would mean maintaining existing one mill taxes. According to the Florida Department
of Revenue, one mill is one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value. For example, if one owned a property with a taxable value of $300,000, the millage rate of 1 would mean they'd pay $300 in property taxes for the schools district's referendum alone.
According to the district, the funds allow for "improvements" to the "compensation of teachers and instructional personnel," and are also used to "improve student safety and school security" — 88% currently goes to "supporting" teachers' salaries, according to agenda item H-12 from an April 22 School Board meeting, with 12% "enhancing school safety by providing an officer at every school site."
"Can you imagine if we didn't have this supplemental pay to make our teachers competitive enough to stay in Miami-Dade Public Schools?" Rafael Villalobos, Miami-Dade Superintendent,said at a press conference on Tuesday, according to WSVN.
"This would be detrimental to Miami-Dade County Public Schools as a whole, because now you can lose high-quality teachers," Villalobos added. "You won’t be able to attract more teachers, just because of the cost of living in Miami-Dade County."
In Miami-Dade County, the minimum base salary for a teacher with a Bachelor's degree, paid over 12 months, was $58,250 for the 2025-2026 school year. In Broward, the minimum base pay for newly-hired teachers was $51,597 for 2025-2026. Florida recently ranked among those states with the lowest annual salaries for teachers, according to WalletHub.
In Broward, funds from the referendum, previously approved by voters in 2022, presently support about "$173 million annually in compensation supplements for teachers and eligible staff," as well as "school safety personnel" and "safety software" like wearable panic-buttons. Funds also support "more than 224 mental health professionals," who serve students and their families.
Renewal of the Broward referendum would allow the district to "recruit and retain high-quality teachers and eligible staff by continuing compensation supplements," according to the district, and "maintain and enhance school resource officers and school safety staff." Funds would also allow the district to support "essential programs," like mental health services.
If the referendum is not renewed, the district says it would lose about $358 million in funding.
Referendums on the ballot in Miami-Dade, Broward Counties
In Miami-Dade, the ballot language is as follows, according to the district's website:
"Referendum Renewal of Existing Ad Valorem Levy for Teachers, Instructional Personnel, Student Safety and Security Shall the School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, maintain the existing one (1) mill ad valorem tax levy exclusively for school operational purposes at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, including public charter schools, to continue improving compensation for teachers and instructional personnel and to improve student safety and school security with oversight by a Citizen Advisory Committee beginning July 1, 2027, and ending June 30, 2031?"
In Broward, the text on the ballot will read as follows, according to the district's website:
"To enhance school safety and mental health services, recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and essential employees, improve student achievement, and support critical school operations, shall the School Board of Broward County continue to levy a one-mill ad valorem property tax from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2030, to fund school safety personnel, mental health services, increased compensation for teachers, and school-based support staff for public and charter schools?"
Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Florida voters to decide if teacher salary supplements remain
