‘Teacher crisis’: Push to extend property tax to pay Duval County teachers continues

The Duval County School Board is making a case to the Jacksonville City Council for a property tax extension that would ultimately need to be placed on the November ballot.

The Board seeks a 1 mill extra tax to boost teacher pay, extending a levy first approved back in 2022, when the General Counsel said state law compelled the City Council to put the tax hike on the ballot.

The money is also used for turf fields and other amenities.

This will be the third school tax referendum in recent years. A referendum in 2020 for a new half-cent sales tax for school improvements in Duval County got through, but not without delay.

A push for that referendum in 2019 failed because charter schools weren’t guaranteed their per pupil share. But once that obstacle was removed by state law demanding a charter carve-out, the school tax sailed to approval, with 67% of the vote in November of that year.

During extended remarks, Superintendent Chris Bernier talked of a “teacher crisis” leading to a shortfall of instructors, saying “compensation matters” as the District competes for a dwindling pool of instructors around the state.

While the District has decreased vacancies in recent years, he argued the referendum can help more. It would “supplement” teacher incomes and allow them to buy gas and pay their mortgages, he said.

“Our millage is a big piece in keeping our teachers,” Bernier said, and allowing the District to maintain its 91% retention rate.

“We’re not asking you to approve a tax,” he added. “We’re asking you to take formal action necessary under the law so our voters, who we’re all accountable to, can make the decision as we make our case.”

Council members seemed sold enough.

Democrat Rahman Johnson lauded Bernier’s “passion.”

Republican Vice President Nick Howland got Bernier to clarify that the Council is simply a “pass-through to put it to the voters.”

“That’s what’s great about this state,” Bernier said, saying the impact on homeowners is small but the collective benefit is great.

If the tax isn’t reauthorized by voters, Bernier warned of salary reductions or even firings, given that there is not another permanent fund from which the board can get money to pay its teachers.

“Understand that when you vote to determine whether or not the 1 mill is going to go on the referendum, think about the cost of a teacher, and how the 1 mill referendum is going to support those teachers,” advised Democrat Tyrona Clark-Murray.