Read the full endorsement from La Gaceta below:
“No. 2 Hillsborough County Referendum
This referendum would raise property taxes for schools by 1 mill for four years. The additional revenue is around $177 million annually. Close to 92 percent will go for raises for teachers, support staff and administrators. Teachers and administrators get $6,000 a year while support staff, such as bus drivers and cafeteria staff, will get $3,000. The remaining 8 percent will go to academic programs and the arts in schools.
The counties around Hillsborough have all passed a similar tax and are paying their teachers more. These counties are using the pay differential to lure Hillsborough teachers, principals and vice principals away from our schools. This poaching of teachers combined with a nation-wide teacher shortage is causing thousands of our students to not have permanent, effective and professional teachers in their classrooms.
We can’t wait any longer. Every student deserves a good teacher providing a stable learning environment.
Some of our inner-city schools have half of the classrooms run by substitute teachers. Will this tax solve the problem? It won’t completely, but if we can keep and hire 100 good teachers, 3,000 kids will get a better education. If we keep 200 more teachers, 6,000 students will be blessed with a professional teacher.
This tax is only for four years. Voters get a chance to evaluate if the money is being spent well and if the problems are being addressed during the next presidential election.
La Gaceta endorses a “Yes” vote on raising the millage for Hillsborough County Public schools.”
By Patrick Manteiga, La Gaceta
Read the endorsement at La Gaceta Newspaper
