Judge orders Hillsborough County Commission to put tax referendum on November ballot

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A circuit judge has ordered that Hillsborough County Public Schools’ millage referendum must be on the November ballot, ending the dispute between the school board and county commission.

The feud between the two entities began when the Hillsborough County Commission voted to postpone the referendum to the 2026 midterm elections instead of the 2024 election, defying the school board’s vote to put the measure on this year’s ballot.

The millage referendum would allowed voters to choose a one mill tax increase, $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value, to help fund the public school system and increase teacher pay. Supporters of the referendum said this would improve public education by allowing Hillsborough County to compete for talented teachers.

Commissioner Joshua Wostal, a Republican who put forth the motion to delay the ballot referendum, argued that such an increase would be badly timed during a period of high inflation. He said he believed while the commission could not stop the ballot measure, it could control when voters would be able to choose.






https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/judge-orders-hillsborough-county-commission-to-put-tax-referendum-on-november-ballot/