This November, Polk County voters will decide on a ballot referendum to approve a 1.0 ad valorem millage (1-mill) property tax increase to raise additional money for Polk County Public Schools (PCPS). The initiative’s main objective is to increase compensation for school employees and address staffing shortages, according to a PCPS presentation.
The referendum is titled “Millage for School Safety, Teachers, and Career Education.” A mill is a specific unit of measurement used to calculate property taxes. The tax would cost $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value after the homestead exemption. For a home with a taxable value of $259,419, the annual cost would be about $259.42, or $21.62 per month, according to the district.
The referendum is expected to generate about $65.6 million annually for four years, if approved. In 2030, residents would again vote to extend the funding or let it expire…