Hillsborough commission puts schools referendum on the ballot after all

Hillsborough County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to put a schools tax referendum on the November ballot just in time for a deadline imposed by a judge — but also vowed to continue the legal battle to delay putting the tax question to voters until 2026.

“I do not believe that a judge can order duly elected officials and violate their First Amendment right and dictate whether they should vote up or down on an item,” said Josh Wostal, the Republican commissioner who led the charge to delay the property tax ballot question.

With a shortage of more than 400 classroom teachers and neighboring...