In 2022, when Duval County Public Schools was facing the highest teacher shortage it had experienced in more than five years, voters approved a 1-mill property tax to supplement teacher pay and provide additional funding for arts and athletic programs.
With the passage of the 1-mill, Duval County joined other large, urban school districts in Florida that rely on the tax to support teacher recruitment and retention. Twenty-nine school districts in Florida, including all the school districts around Duval County, also use the tax to support teacher compensation.
Voters are asked to renew the tax every four years, and Duval County Public Schools requested the Jacksonville City Council add the measure to the November 3 General Election ballot.
A city council committee deferred the vote on the request to put the measure on the ballot. At the regular council meeting on June 9, the full council voted to add the referendum to the Nov. 3 ballot.
See JPEF’s letter to the Council here.
Why This Matters
- Research shows that highly-qualified teachers are the most important in-school factor influencing student success.
- JPEF’s compensation research found that low teacher pay is one of the top reasons Duval County teachers considered leaving the classroom and one of the biggest barriers discouraging college students from entering the profession.
- When voters approved the 1-mill referendum in 2022, Duval County Public Schools was facing its worst teacher shortage in five years, with more than 400 teacher vacancies.
- Since the referendum passed, the district has been better positioned to compete with neighboring counties for teaching talent and retain high-quality educators who are essential to student achievement.
- The progress in Duval County is clear.
- Duval County Public Schools earned its first-ever “A” rating from the state in 2025.
- Graduation rates have continued improving, including among traditional and charter schools.
- These gains reflect the hard work of students, families, school leaders and, especially, the dedicated teachers who choose to serve in Duval County.
See more about the importance of the 1-Mill Property Tax here.
What’s Next
- JPEF would like to hear from teachers and parents on how the 1-mill property tax has impacted their decisions to teach or their experience with education in Duval County. If you have a story to share, please do so here.
- JPEF will be hosting several forums on the referendum later this summer.
- The referendum will be on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.