Duval Voters Decide Tuesday Whether to Keep the School District's One-Mill Tax for Four More Years
Below the statewide races on every Duval County ballot sits a local question with direct stakes for classrooms: continue the school district's current one-mill property tax for operating expenses - teacher pay, security, arts and athletics - from July 2027 through June 2031, or let it lapse. A majority decides.
Duval County's ballot on Tuesday ends with a question about its own schools. Voters will decide whether the Duval County School District continues its current one-mill ad valorem tax for school operating purposes for four more years, under the referendum called by City Council Ordinance 2026-387-E - the ordinance itself, opened and read directly by the desk this run from the city's Legistar record.
The ballot question, as the ordinance prints it, asks: 'Shall the Duval County School District continue the current one (1) mill ad valorem millage for essential operating expenses, shared proportionately with charter schools, including compensating teachers, security, and support staff; preserving academic programs, and protecting arts, athletics, and student activities beginning July 1, 2027, and ending four (4) fiscal years later on June 30, 2031, with annual reporting to ensure proper fiscal stewardship of these funds to the citizens of Duval County?' Voters mark YES, for continuation, or NO, against continuation.
The question reaches the ballot because the School Board asked for it: the board adopted a resolution on May 5, 2026 calling the referendum, and the ordinance directs that it be held with the Nov. 3 general election. Florida law authorizes the additional operating millage only with approval of a majority of the county's electors voting in the referendum, and the ordinance provides that every qualified Duval elector may vote on it - it is not limited to property owners or parents.
If a majority votes for continuation, the additional mill continues from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2031, and the School Board must then specify by separate action how the proceeds are used; if less than a majority votes for it, the continuation is defeated, the ordinance states. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at each voter's assigned precinct - the desk's full Duval Election Day guide is SQ-20261101-063.
