St. Pete-Clearwater Sun

A newly formed community group is pushing Pasco County residents to support renewing a school property tax referendum that voters will consider this November.

The group, called “People for Pasco,” has organized to advocate for the renewal of the Pasco County Schools tax referendum.

The current referendum is set to expire in June 2027. Revenue from the tax is used to supplement pay for both instructional and non-instructional staff. Superintendent John Legg has previously warned that, without renewal, teacher pay in the district could fall by 12%, putting Pasco at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighboring counties.

Pasco County homeowners pay an average of $300 per year in taxes under the current tax rate.

Denise Nicholas, a mother of five enrolled in Pasco County Schools and a member of People for Pasco, said the group’s goal is to ensure residents understand what the referendum does. “To let families and the community understand what the referendum is and what it’s about — to truly inform people about the importance of the referendum,” she said.

Nicholas said her children have experienced years without a stable, full-time teacher and cited the tax funding as key to keeping educators in Pasco rather than losing them to surrounding districts that already have similar referendums in place.

Opponents of the measure argue that teacher and staff salaries should not depend on a recurring tax referendum.

The vote is scheduled for November.

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