Duval County School Board to Vote on 1-Mill Tax Renewal

The district's 1-mill ad valorem tax, initially passed in 2022, is up for renewal.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Duval County school board is expected to vote on whether to put the 1-mill ad valorem tax on the 2026 ballot. Voters initially approved the 1-mill property tax increase back in 2022, and voters will get a say on whether to renew the tax for another four years. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier has outlined plans to use the estimated $121 million in annual revenue to fund teacher salaries, arts programs, and athletic facility improvements.

Why it matters

The 1-mill tax renewal is crucial for maintaining competitive teacher salaries and funding important educational programs in the district. If it does not pass, the district would have to reallocate funds from other areas of the budget to cover teacher pay.

The details

The 1-mill ad valorem tax would not raise taxes, but rather renew an existing property tax that was initially approved by voters in 2022. Superintendent Bernier has said the revenue would be used for teacher salaries, arts programs, and athletic facility upgrades. Some school board members have also questioned whether the funds could be used for school safety personnel.

  • The Duval County school board is expected to vote on the 1-mill tax renewal resolution on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • Voters initially approved the 1-mill property tax increase in 2022.

The players

Duval County School Board

The governing body of the Duval County Public Schools district in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dr. Christopher Bernier

The Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools.

Katie Hathaway

A parent of children attending schools in Duval County who supports renewing the 1-mill tax.

Melody Bolduc

A Duval County school board member who questioned whether the tax revenue could be used for school safety personnel.

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What they’re saying

“Some people will vote for teachers to have more money. Some people will vote for new athletic helmets. People have different priorities, and they'll go to the voter booth depending on what their priorities are.”

— Dr. Christopher Bernier, Superintendent, Duval County Public Schools (firstcoastnews.com)

“Strong public schools strengthen our entire community. They are educating our children, our future workforce. They employ our friends and our neighbors. And they contribute to our property values and they provide children, every child, fantastic opportunities. So this is about an investment in our district.”

— Katie Hathaway, Parent, Duval County Public Schools (firstcoastnews.com)

“I don't think we can say that security and safety is our top priority, but not consider that our security staff, our SROs are telling us we can't live on this, we need them, we wanna keep them, and so a lot of the way that we communicate value to our staff members is through pay.”

— Melody Bolduc, School Board Member, Duval County Public Schools (firstcoastnews.com)

What’s next

If the Duval County school board approves the resolution to put the 1-mill tax renewal on the 2026 ballot, it will then go to the Jacksonville City Council for a vote on whether to place the referendum on the ballot.

The takeaway

The 1-mill tax renewal is a critical funding source for Duval County Public Schools, providing resources for teacher salaries, educational programs, and facility improvements. The outcome of the upcoming vote will have significant implications for the district's ability to attract and retain quality educators and provide a well-rounded education for students.