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 County, Broward County and Palm Beach County, referendums to preserve teachers' compensation will be on the ballot in November — already in place in all three districts, renewal wouldn't result in any tax increases for voters, according to each district's website, but would continue to provide funds to supplement salaries for key staff.
Approval of the referendums would mean maintaining existing one mill taxes in each district. 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 local school district's referendum alone.
Florida's general election is set to take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but early voting has already opened in all three counties, and will run until Sunday, Nov. 1. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily during early voting, as well as on election day.
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.
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."
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.
In Palm Beach County, the funding has "supported" schools in the district "since 2019," and the vote would mean renewing "an existing measure," and would not result in a "new tax," according to the district's website.
The district says that 50% of the funding currently goes to supplementing teacher pay in order to "attract and retain high-quality educators," 25% funds more than 900 teachers in "arts, music, and specialized academies" and another 25% goes toward "school police, security staff, and mental health professionals."
According to the district's website, the funding allows it "to provide salary supplements that average $8,000 per year" to teachers. Without the funding, teachers would face a pay cut, the district says, and more than 900 teaching positions "would be eliminated."
"Without this support, Palm Beach County would struggle to remain competitive with surrounding regions," according to the district.
Referendums on the ballot in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach 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?"
In Palm Beach, the text on the ballot will read as follows, according to the district's website:
"Shall the School District of Palm Beach County have continued authority to levy 1.00 mills of ad valorem millage for operational needs of public schools dedicated to funding school safety; school police; mental health services; arts, music, physical education, career and choice program teachers; and improved teacher pay beginning July 1, 2027 and automatically ending June 30, 2031, with oversight of all funds by an independent committee of citizens and experts?"
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: Voters to decide if South Florida teachers keep their current wages
