Window closing for Seminole County Public Schools teacher pay referendum 

The window to put a teacher pay referendum before voters this November is rapidly closing – and the Seminole County school board doesn’t appear to have an appetite to consider it. 

Seminole County Public Schools is in “hard times” financially, school board member Kristine Kraus said. 

The district is seeing steep drops in enrollment, which translates to a $26.1 million budget deficit for the coming year. And school boards can’t vote to raise their millage rate independently, like city and county governments; the rate is set by state lawmakers. 

To balance it out, the school district has cut more than 314 positions, and is still trying to plug a recurring $3 million budget hole that threatens the long-term viability of the district.  

And that sparked discussion for Seminole County voters to add a referendum on the 2026 ballot. The idea is to increase the property tax rate by one millage point – about $100 in cost for every $100,000 in a home’s taxable value – and to use that money to increase teacher and staff salaries. 

More than 1,100 emails were sent as part of a campaign by the union asking school district members to put a referendum on the ballot for 2026. The deadline to get language to the Supervisor of Election’s office is Monday, July 6. 

“Additionally, this referendum would provide a meaningful boost to the local economy,” a resident wrote in one email reviewed by Oviedo Community News. “As the largest employer in Seminole County, Seminole County Schools plays a vital role in the community’s economic health. Increasing employee compensation would translate into greater spending at local businesses and services, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the county. Supporting school employees ultimately supports the broader community.”

In a response to a social media post of a recent Oviedo Community News article about budget cuts in the district, more than 200 people commented. Many were against the idea of a tax increase. 

“NO! To increasing property taxes as it certainly won’t go to teachers!!! We’ve never ever in 38 years seen a significant raise. I see over 400 jobs on SCPS website,” wrote one user. 

SCPS School Board Member Abby Sanchez asked district staff to have an open discussion on the referendum before a workshop at the May 12 meeting. But ultimately Sanchez asked it to be pulled from the discussion agenda after getting answers to technical questions about the timing from staff. 

“I wish time was on our side,” Sanchez said. 

SCPS Board Member Kristine Kraus brought up the referendum from the dais anyway. She said she personally received 300-plus emails, and felt those constituents deserved to hear from her. At the May board meeting, Kraus said the low teacher pay was “embarrassing,” and that her “heart breaks.”

Florida ranks 50th in the nation for average teacher pay, according to a report from the National Education Association, the national union for teachers. 

“We don’t have data to show this is what our communities want. It’s such a short timeframe and I just don’t see the turnaround,” Kraus said. “Quite honestly, we haven’t polled our communities to make the best decision.”

But polling was done on this exact topic – during the last election cycle. It was paid for by the statewide teacher’s union – the Florida Education Association – on behalf of Seminole County’s union. The Seminole teacher’s union shared emails with district officials, showing the poll results and requesting a meeting with the superintendent to discuss getting it on the ballot in 2024

In 2024, Clearview Research surveyed 300 eligible voters, and then balanced the results by gender, age, race and party. The sample was “random and representative,” and had a 6% margin of error. 

The question that was asked of voters in the survey: 

For the purpose of increasing the pay of teachers and education staff professionals, increase the number of educators to meet the needs of students and other similar purposes, shall the School District of Seminole County authorize a one mill ad valorem tax for a period of four years to ensure greater student achievement; and to distribute proportional funds to Charter Schools pursuant to Florida law with proceeds reviewed by a Citizens’ Financial Oversight Committee? 

That survey showed 62% of voters were in favor of the measure. The poll also showed that increasing teacher pay was the most popular reason to support the item, with 84% saying it would make them more likely to vote for the measure. 

“It’s been done in 27 counties,” said Thomas Bugos, the president of the Seminole Education Association, the union representing teachers. “[But the Seminole County School Board] will not even entertain it.”

None of the board members interviewed by Oviedo Community News said they recalled seeing the polling data in 2024. Sanchez said she wished they had put it on the ballot back then. Oviedo Community News asked the district if the polling 

“I thought about it in 2024,” Sanchez said. “Did I bring it up? No. Do I regret not bringing it up? 

Neighboring Brevard County passed a 1 mill referendum in 2022, and voters are being asked to renew it again in August of 2026. The referendums have to be renewed every four years. And Orange County also has a 1 mill referendum on the ballot this year. Orange County first approved its tax in 2010.

“If we’re trying to combat the loss of money for public schools, this is how to do it,” Bugos said. “They needed to say in this (May) meeting they would do it.”

Deadlines loom to get a referendum on the ballot

Even if the school board changed course, the window to get a ballot initiative in is closing. 

According to a policy from the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, the deadline to provide official ballot language to the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections office is Monday, July 6 before 5 p.m. 

And the board would have to approve the language at a regularly scheduled meeting, leaving just one meeting – June 16 – to get it done. 

School Board Member Autumn Garick said the school board can’t raise its tax rates independently, like county and city governments. 

“Our only opportunity is to go to voters,” Garick said. “We’re forced to tighten our belts and once every four years we can consider a millage. We want our teachers to be paid well. We want our employees to be paid well. No one who works in our schools should have to be depending on the food pantries that are within our schools to exist.”

School Board Member Abby Sanchez agreed. 

“(Or) work two, three jobs,” Sanchez added. 

“We are looking at the timeline,” Garick continued. “We’re exploring every option because our schools are vital, not just for our kids, but for everyone here.”

You can watch the SCPS board meeting here. Want to contact your elected leaders and weigh in on this topic? Find their contact information here. Have a news tip or opinion to share with OCN? Do that here. 

Another factor: The statute authorizing it would require the school board to “direct the county commissioners to call an election at which the electors within the school district may approve an ad valorem tax millage,” the statute reads. That means the county commission could also weigh in on it. 

Three school board members are up for election in 2026: Kelley Davis, who said Tuesday she is not seeking reelection, and Garick and Kraus. 

School Board Chair Robin Dehlinger said a referendum was not going to happen in 2026 – even if there is older polling data showing it was popular. 

Dehlinger put the blame on Tallahassee lawmakers, who have been expanding vouchers for private schools and reducing the tax rate schools can charge over the past few sessions. 

“We are in a very different time now,” Dehlinger said. “And I think we still are in a situation where there are many uncertainties, and many economic uncertainties. We would need more recent information.” 

Sanchez said she thinks the board needs to be ready for a 2028 referendum. 

“Starting in 2027 for 2028: 100%,” Sanchez said. “I think we need to do a massive deep dive.”

Abe Aboraya is a Report for America corps member