Our schools. Our community. Our future.

  • A Referendum for our Teachers and Students

  • Thank you Duval voters for approving new funding to support our teachers and schools

    Key Events

    March 1 — The School Board of Duval County passed a resolution to place it on the ballot — Complete

    April 26 — The City Council considers the resolution and places it on the ballot — Complete

    July 25 — Deadline to register to vote — Complete

    August 8-21 — Early voting for primary election --Complete  

    August 13 — Deadline to request a ballot to be mailed -- Complete  

    August 23 — Voters approved the referendum! 

  • Voters Will Decide On August 23, 2022

    OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE
    DUVAL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
    AD VALOREM MILLAGE ELECTION

    .

    SHALL THE DUVAL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY AN AD VALOREM OPERATING MILLAGE OF 1 MILL ANNUALLY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS AND STAFF THROUGH ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION, ENHANCE ART, MUSIC AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDE PROPORTIONATE FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE AND SUSTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUALITY OF DUVAL COUNTY’S SCHOOL SYSTEM.

    _____ YES,  for additional milleage             _____ NO, against additional millage

  • Why It's Needed Instructional Vacancies in DCPS Graph. Feb 2017, 183. Feb 2018, 142. Feb 2019, 175. Feb 2020, 235. Feb 2021, 188. Feb 2022, 466.

    Instructional vacancies have increased 155% over the past 6 years. Experienced, successful teachers earn the same or slightly higher than first-year teachers. As a result, teachers are retiring early, resigning or moving on to higher paying, less stressful jobs.

  • Experience Lagging

    • Duval County is ranked 58th out of 69 for average teacher experience.
    • Duval lags behind nearby North Florida counties and is last among the seven large urban districts.
    • This has a profound impact on student learning as experienced teachers can offer more to students than starting teachers.

  • Counties Passing It

    Millage referendums have been successfully implemented in 20 counties in Florida and all but one large district besides Duval.

  • How Will It Be Spent?Shares Pie Chart. 75% Teachers/Staff. 12.5% Arts/Athletics. 12.5% Charter Share.

    In addition to compensation for teachers and staff, money will be used to upgrade equipment and uniforms in the arts as well as fields, bleachers, and playgrounds in athletics. Charter schools will get a proportionate share based upon enrollment, as required by the state.

    *Charter share is based on enrollment and could change annually.

  • Declining Millage RateSchool Tax Rate Over Past 12 Years. In 2010 was 5.3 . In 2014 was 5.0 . In 2018 was 4.3 . In 2022 was 3.2

    The state mandated a steady decline in the Required Local Millage rate each year from 5.3 in 2010 to 3.2 today. This was done to offset increases in property values, but it cost the district $658 million and reduced its ability to keep up with growth and inflation. If the 1 mill passes it’s still below the 2010 rate.

  • How Much Will It Cost?

    One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value, minus the $25,000 homestead exemption. For example, a home with a value of $300,000 will pay $275 a year, or about $23 a month.