Voters will decide in November 2026 whether to renew Hillsborough County’s half-penny sales tax for schools, extending the existing levy for another decade. The Hillsborough County School Board will vote May 5 on whether to place the measure on the ballot.
The referendum would keep the current one-half cent sales tax in place, not raise it. The item sits on the consent agenda, which means the board can approve it in a single vote unless a member pulls it for discussion.
Voters first approved the surtax in 2018. Since then, Hillsborough County Public Schools has used the revenue to build new schools, renovate campuses, upgrade security systems and improve air conditioning.
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As of Feb. 28, 2026, the district has spent more than $1.15 billion from the surtax, including about $682.6 million with local and small businesses. That spending has supported construction and facility projects across the county and supplemented state funding for school infrastructure.
The surtax now serves as a central source of capital funding for the district. If voters approve the renewal, the district will continue using the revenue to address enrollment growth and aging facilities. If voters reject it, the district would lose a dedicated funding source for long-term construction and facility work.
The revenue allows the district to plan projects over several years and keep construction work moving, while directing a significant share of that spending into the local economy.
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