Polk School Board wants you to pay a 1 Mill Tax Proposal for Teacher Pay

After months of planning, the Polk County School Board has disclosed the referendum it wants to put before voters in the next general election. 

Board members voted 6-0 on Tuesday to approve tentative ballot language that would:

Levy an additional 1 mill in ad valorem property taxes for four years.

Allocate 80% of the revenue to salary increases for teachers and school-based staff.

Allocate the other 20% to school programs.

Share proceeds with charter schools, as required by law.

Create a 14-member citizens’ oversight committee to monitor spending.

School board members plan to vote on the final wording immediately following the hearing.

They will then send the ballot language to the Polk County Commission for approval. If the commissioners agree, it will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, election ballot.

Property taxes are calculated using a millage rate. One mill — 0.1 cents or one thousandth of a dollar — translates to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

The average market value of a home in Polk County is $284,419. Assuming the standard $50,000 homestead exemption, the average taxable value becomes $234,419. 

The school district currently levies a property tax of 3.79 mills for operating expenses and 1.5 mills for capital improvement, making a combined total of 5.29 mills. That’s about $1,240 per year for the average homeowner in Polk County.

Another mill for pay raises would add $234 a year from 2027 through 2031, bringing the total to $1,474 annually.

District staff estimates that a 1-mill increase would generate $72 million to $80 million a year.

Details of the 80% set aside for salaries would have to be negotiated with the unions that represent educators and support staff. The other 20% earmarked for programming would include funding for fine arts, school safety, workforce and career education programs, and full-day instead of half-day pre-kindergarten programs.

Public hearing about millage proposal

• When: Sept. 9 during the board meeting that begins at 5 p.m.
• Where: School Board auditorium, 1915 South Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830

To contact your school board member: Visit the school board’s web page, which includes a map of the districts and each member’s phone number and email address.