Voters approve Hillsborough school referendums

Hillsborough County voters made some big decisions last night that impact schools in the county. Among them, the superintendent position will now be an elected one going forward, no longer an appointed one. Voters also approved a big money decision as well. The half-cent sales tax overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 62 percent to 38 percent. Fox 13's Heather Healy is live to explain where that money will go. Hey, good morning to both of you. Hillsborough County voters, they have spoken, deciding to renew a crucial half-cent sales tax for local schools for another decade. Now, the surtax first passed in 2018 and was set to expire, but district leaders say its extension was essential to keep aging campuses running. Since 2019, officials say the tax has funded more than 1,000 completed projects across the district, with roughly 200 more currently underway. By law, this revenue is strictly... It's restricted to capital improvements, including replacing around 180 air conditioning units, more than 60 roofs, and upgrading dozens of playgrounds and athletic fields. Oversight leaders say without it, school infrastructure would be in serious, serious trouble. We would have been in deep trouble because there was a desperate cry for air conditioning, for roofing, for technology. The loudest cry was for air conditioning. So we have been able to, we have completed over 1,000 projects since it started in 2019. And we have about 200 more to go. And it's just nonstop. And that's why we can't go backwards. Now beyond classroom comforts, the money also covers campus safety measures like fire systems, perimeter fencing and enhanced security. While voters previously approved a separate tax for teacher and staff pay increases, state law bars those operational dollars from being spent on brick and mortar repairs. And the measure officially passed with more than 300,000 votes. District leaders say that gives them the green light to tackle more than 1,700 additional capital projects slated over the next 10 years. So 10 more years of this, guys. Heather Healy reporting for us this morning. Thank you, Heather. You bet.