By Tracy McCormick-Dishman
When Nassau County voters go to the polls Nov. 3, one of the questions on their ballot will ask whether the school district should keep collecting an extra property tax voters approved in 2022. For some, it is a matter of paying teachers and keeping students safe. For others, it is a question of how much they want to pay in property taxes.
What exactly are voters being asked? The Nassau NewsLine reviewed the ballot language and information from the Nassau County School District so our readers can make an informed decision.
The ballot asks, “Shall the Nassau County School District continue to levy an ad valorem operating millage of up to 1 mill annually to attract and retain high-quality teachers and staff through additional compensation, enhance fine arts and athletic programs and provide enhanced safety and security for students and staff, in order to continue and sustain improvements in the quality of Nassau County’s school system.” Voters will mark yes, for continuing the tax, or no, against it.
In plain terms, the district is asking voters to renew a 1-mill property tax that passed narrowly in November 2022, with 53.35% of the vote. That year, 24,176 voters voted yes and 21,143 voted no. The current authorization ends Dec. 31 unless voters renew it. If they do, the renewal would fund four school years, from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2031, according to the district.
Is this a new tax? No, according to the district. Property owners are already paying it, and renewing it would not raise the current tax rate or add to current tax bills.
How much does it cost? One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s school taxable value, after exemptions such as homestead. According to the district, a property with a taxable value of $100,000 pays $100 a year, about $8.33 a month or 27 cents a day. At $200,000, it is $200 a year, about $16.66 a month or 55 cents a day. At $300,000, it is $300 a year, about $25 a month or 82 cents a day.
Why does the district say it needs the money? State funding does not fully cover the cost of competitive pay or state-mandated school safety requirements, according to the district. It says the millage helps Nassau keep and recruit teachers and support staff and stay competitive with neighboring school districts that have approved similar taxes.
Where does the money go? The district divides it among four areas:
- Employee pay, 70%: Supplements for teachers and support staff, negotiated with the Nassau Teachers Association and the Nassau Educational Support Professionals Association
- Safety, 12%: CENTEGIX CrisisAlert badges, upgraded security cameras and environmental sensors
- Arts, 9%: Art teachers in every elementary school, band instruments, classroom equipment and support for performing arts programs
- Athletics, 9%: Certified athletic trainers, safer equipment, upgraded weight rooms, turf fields and rubberized tracks
What does that mean for an employee’s paycheck? The amount each employee receives from the millage depends on experience for teachers and on the number of days worked each year for support staff, according to the district:
| Years | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $2,000 | $1,825 | $750.25 |
| 1-6 | $2,000 | $3,500 | $3,600.25 |
| 7-12 | $4,000 | $6,500 | $6,750.25 |
| 13-18 | $6,000 | $8,000 | $8,250.25 |
| 19-24 | $8,000 | $10,250 | $10,500.25 |
| 25+ | $10,000 | $11,000 | $11,270.25 |
| Days | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 188 | $4,800 | $5,473 | $5,877 |
| 189 | — | — | $5,908 |
| 194 | $4,800 | $5,647 | $6,064 |
| 219 | $4,800 | $6,375 | $6,846 |
| 224 | $4,800 | $6,521 | $7,002 |
| 260 | $4,800 | $7,569 | $8,128 |
Do charter schools get a share? Yes. As required by state law, the money is shared with eligible public charter schools in Nassau County based on their enrollment, according to the district.
Is the renewal tied to Amendment 3 or other property tax measures on the ballot? No, according to the district. It says the school millage is a separate, standalone vote, and the outcome of state constitutional amendments or other tax measures on the ballot will not affect it.
How is the money tracked? A Millage Referendum Citizens Oversight Committee reviews the district’s revenue and spending from the millage each year to make sure it is used for the purposes voters approved. Its annual reports are posted on the district’s website.
What happens after the vote? If a majority of voters on the question vote yes, the district will continue collecting the tax for four more years. If a majority vote no, the tax will expire.
For more information, visit nassau.k12.fl.us/page/one-mill-renewal or call the school district at 904-491-9900.
