Broward Schools approves tax referendum for November ballot. What voters should know
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of school board members who voted to approve the referendum language. The final ballot wording passed unanimously.
The corrected story is below.
The Broward County Public School Board passed language for a proposed referendum that would ask voters to continue a tax supporting employee pay, school safety and mental health services this November.
After lengthy debate, the board approved the ballot language at the March 10 school board meeting.
If approved by Broward voters on Nov. 3, the measure would extend the district’s current 1-mill operating tax through Dec. 31, 2030, generating millions of dollars to help fund teacher compensation and school support services.
The debate centered on how clearly the referendum should define which employees receive the funding, particularly after the controversy surrounding the last referendum vote in 2022.
Under the current allocation, about 75% of the funds go toward compensation supplements, 17% toward school safety and security personnel and related support, and 8% toward student support services, such as mental health and wellness.
The tax is set to expire after the 2026-2027 school year and would create a large funding gap if voters do not renew it, board members say.
“The challenge with the ballot language is you only have 75 words,” said John Sullivan, the board’s chief of staff and communications director. “Instead of saying staff, I believe we have teachers, school-based and support staff.”
Board member Allen Zeman said he primarily wanted voters to understand that the tax would support educator pay.
“This is a life-or-death situation for us, to be honest with you,” he said. “The funding that comes to this referendum is what keeps our educators kind of reasonably well compensated.”
Zeman added that voters had been clear about their priorities and proposed a motion to change it to language he wrote.
“The people want teachers and educators to get this money, they’ve been crystal clear on that,” Zeman said. “These funds, $375 million to the school district ... is a make-or-break amount of money. We have to write this in a way that ensures the maximum amount of pay.”
Who would get the funds?
Several board members raised concerns that the ballot wording was too broad and could allow funds to go to employees not directly working in schools.
Board member Debra Hixon proposed language specifying that supplements go to teachers and employees who directly affect students.
She made a substitute motion to “change the wording in the first sentence to essential employees and then the second to fund additional pay for teachers and staff that directly impact students.”
Vice Chair Jeff Holness noted that the board could still determine how funds are allocated after the referendum, if voters approve the measure on the ballot.
Others said the board was over-debating phrasing.
“It feels a little bit silly to be picking apart words like this when we could have shared all of these concerns with staff beforehand,” Chair Sarah Leonardi said. “I support the shortened language, but to be picking apart words, I don’t think is the best use of our time.”
Board member Lori Alhadeff, whose 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, said school safety and mental health should remain the referendum’s top priority.
“I beg to differ with my colleague in that school safety and mental health services is the most important part, because if your children don’t come home alive, then nothing else matters,” Alhadeff said.
The vote and what comes next
Hixon’s substitute motion failed in a 6-3 vote. The board then approved a revised motion from Holness clarifying language about school safety personnel.
“My motion is to say school safety personnel as opposed to school safety officers, because it would be inclusive of officers and other school safety staff,” he said.
The final ballot language passed unanimously.
The language approved for the ballot is:
“Fund School Employee Pay, Safety, and Mental Health through a One-Mill Property Tax Levy.
To enhance school safety and mental health services, recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and essential employees, improve student achievement, and support critical school operations, shall the School Board of Broward County continue to levy a one-mill ad valorem property tax from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2030, to fund school safety personnel, mental health services, increased compensation for teachers, and school-based and support staff for public and charter schools?”
The board plans to hold a workshop March 24 to discuss how the referendum funds would be allocated if voters approve the measure.
This story was originally published March 16, 2026 at 3:38 PM.
