Legal deadline looms for Hillsborough County Schools lawsuit

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A major deadline loomed Friday in a lawsuit between the Hillsborough County Commission and the Hillsborough County School District.

The school board voted to increase property taxes to fund pay increases for teachers, bus drivers and school staff. It maintains that the property tax increase is needed because the county is losing teachers to surrounding counties, which have already passed property tax increases that have allowed them to increase teacher pay.

However, Hillsborough County commissioners said that would place two issues on the ballot that would increase taxes to benefit schools.

The school district also would receive money if voters approve an extension of the community investment tax.

Commissioners previously voted to decrease the percentage of the community investment tax that is dedicated to schools. The C.I.T. is a tax that was first approved in 1996.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal said now is not the time to hit voters with two tax increase proposals and thinks the issue should be pushed to the November 2026 election.

“We believe that it’s more appropriate coming out of the past four years of record high inflation, 21% of compounding interest, on our taxpayers, and we believe that they need that relief,” Wostal said.

Hillsborough County School Superintendent Van Ayers said he believes voters should have the right to decide now.

“It’s puzzling to all of us in Hillsborough County Public Schools as to why four county commissioners are taking the choice out of the hands of voters,” Ayers said.

The Hillsborough County supervisor of elections said he needs a decision on the issue by Aug. 20 if it is to be placed on the ballot.

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