JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County School Board members on Tuesday voted to send a resolution renewing a 1-mill property tax for Duval County Public Schools to the Jacksonville City Council for placement on the November ballot.
Board members debated the measure for hours as related agenda items were discussed, and ultimately approved the resolution by a 6-1 vote, sending the proposal to the next step in the local approval process.
Board Chair Charlotte Joyce was the lone “no” vote, citing a desire to bring the proposed millage down from 1 mill to a half-mill.
During the meeting, the board heard extensive public comment from parents, teachers, and community members, who urged support for the renewal and asked the board to keep the measure moving forward.
MORE: ‘Deeply troubling incident’: DCPS police investigating after unauthorized person boards school bus | ‘It really starts at home’: DCPS police chief addresses parents’ concerns after middle school student stabbed on bus
“They are being asked to do more with less,” one parent said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Another said, “It costs them very little in comparison to the impact of schools.”
“[It’s an] opportunity for this board to stand with educators and stand with students,” one more parent chimed in.
DCPS said the renewal would generate about $121 million a year for the district if voters approve it.
The district said roughly $62 million of that would be dedicated to teacher salary supplements, which DCPS described as ranging from $7,730 to $9,370 depending on salary band.
DCPS officials also said the millage supports arts and athletics with about $12 million annually, funding items such as:
Arts program investments, according to DCPS:
- 10-stage floors and seating renovations scheduled
- 10 high school band uniforms
- 32 lighting and sound upgrades
- 2 recording studios
- 233 teachers receiving direct classroom support
Athletics program investments, according to DCPS:
- 12 playgrounds
- 11 bleachers
- 8 tracks
- 6 turf fields
- 6 scoreboards
- 6 female facility upgrades
- 5 tennis courts
Board member April Carney said the board has a responsibility to be careful stewards of public funds and to explain that responsibility to the public.
“When we are sitting here tonight… we need to make sure we are fiscally responsible with the people in this building," she said.
This is a renewal of a millage first approved in 2022.
The resolution will now go to the Jacksonville City Council, which would place the renewal question on the November ballot if it approves.