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This November, Polk County voters will decide on a ballot referendum to approve a 1.0 ad valorem millage (1-mill) property tax increase to raise additional money for Polk County Public Schools (PCPS). The initiative’s main objective is to increase compensation for school employees and address staffing shortages, according to a PCPS presentation.
The referendum is titled “Millage for School Safety, Teachers, and Career Education.” A mill is a specific unit of measurement used to calculate property taxes. The tax would cost $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value after the homestead exemption. For a home with a taxable value of $259,419, the annual cost would be about $259.42, or $21.62 per month, according to the district.
The referendum is expected to generate about $65.6 million annually for four years, if approved. In 2030, residents would again vote to extend the funding or let it expire.
In the 2025-26 school year, Polk ranked 53rd out of Florida’s 67 counties in per-student funding, despite being the seventh largest district in the state. Among Florida’s seven largest school districts, Polk is the only one without a voter-approved millage tax.
What supporters say 1-mill could mean for Polk
PCPS Superintendent Fred Heid said the district’s financial health is closely tied to the broader local economy. He said strong schools can help attract residents and businesses and provide employers with a stronger local workforce.
“There is very much a symbiotic relationship between your school district and how the community thrives,” Heid said.
If the referendum passes, he said the most immediate change for employees would likely be less tangible than a new program or facility.
“The change that would be most directly visible would be morale and culture,” he said. “People would feel valued. People would feel a sense that the community is invested in what they do.”
Pay is the primary issue
Heid said teacher recruitment and competitive pay are the primary reasons the district is seeking additional revenue. The district said additional compensation is needed to help recruit and retain employees in a competitive labor market.
“The fact that almost 30 school districts have passed referendums to bolster their teacher pay says volumes about what the need is,” Heid said.
Polk has the lowest starting teacher salary among its peers, and its teachers earn about $7,000 less on average than teachers in those districts, according to PCPS.
“We keep giving 3% raises or above on average,” Heid said. “The problem though is cost of living has far exceeded what we’re able to keep pace with.”
He said some school employees earn below the United Way’s ALICE benchmark, a measure of the income needed to afford basic household expenses. Heid said the additional compensation could be particularly significant for those employees.
Battling the teacher shortage
The district also says it’s losing employees to neighboring school districts and the private sector, citing pay for teachers and support staff as a factor. Six of the nine counties surrounding Polk have voter-approved millage rates for schools: Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Orange and Pasco. Lake County’s rate is 0.75 mills.
Statewide vacancy data provides another measure of the staffing challenge. As of Aug. 10, Polk had 437 instructional vacancies, the highest number reported among Florida school districts, according to the Florida Education Association (FEA).
Statewide instructional vacancies declined 36.9% from the 2024 school year — from 5,007 to 3,157. Polk went in the opposite direction during that period, with vacancies increasing 36.1%, from 321 to 437, according to the FEA.
Where the money would go
Under the district’s proposal, 80% of the revenue would fund additional compensation for school-related employees. The remaining 20% would support school safety, fine and performing arts, career and technical education, and early childhood education.
About $14.4 million would go to charter schools as required by state law, according to the district.
The referendum would not fund salary increases for district administrators or expand district-level positions.
If voters approve the tax, an independent citizens oversight committee would monitor the funds for transparency, fiscal responsibility, and alignment with the district’s strategic goals.
For more information
Voters can review the ballot resolution text, background presentations, and FAQ materials directly on the Polk County Schools Ballot Initiative Portal.
County School Board Referendum Ballot Language
Millage for School Safety, Teachers, and Career Education
Shall the Polk County School District levy an additional 1.0 mill in ad valorem taxes annually to fund school operations for teacher recruitment and retention and education support staff, for career and technical education, school safety, arts, and early learning–with proceeds shared with charter schools as required by law and monitored by an independent citizens’ oversight committee?
Tasa Impositiva para la Seguridad Escolar, los Maestros y la Educación Profesional
¿Debería el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Polk imponer anualmente una tasa adicional de 1.0 milésima en impuestos ad valorem para financiar las operaciones escolares destinadas a la contratación y retención de maestros y personal de apoyo educativo para la educación profesional y técnica, la seguridad escolar, las artes y la educación temprana, distribuyendo los fondos recaudados con las escuelas chárter según lo exige la ley y bajo la supervisión de un comité ciudadano independiente?
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