Polk County voters will decide on a 1.0 mill ad valorem property tax referendum in the upcoming General Election.
If taxpayers approve it, the measure is projected to generate about $65.6 million annually for Polk County Public Schools (PCPS), with an additional $13.6 million distributed to local charter schools under state law and enrollment.
Key Details & Allocation
- Employee Pay & Recruitment (80% / ~$52.5M): Earmarked to fund competitive salary increases and retention supplements for school-based employees, including classroom teachers, support staff, paraprofessionals, and bus drivers. District leadership noted that Polk County ranked 53rd out of Florida’s 67 counties in per-student funding and faced over 400 instructional vacancies heading into the school year.
- Academic & Safety Programs (20% / ~$13.1M): Dedicated to supporting fine and performing arts, career and technical education (CTE), early childhood education, and school safety/security initiatives.
- Exclusions & Oversight: Revenue generated from the millage cannot be used for district administrator pay or expanding district-level administrative roles. An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee will review all expenditures for fiscal transparency and compliance.
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