- April 17, 2026
If given a choice, would Volusia County voters choose to tax themselves to help fund teacher and support staff salaries?
During a special meeting on Friday, April 17, the Volusia County School Board voted 3-2 to pursue a referendum on the matter for placement on the November ballot, a push led by Volusia United Educators. The teachers' union states that a referendum, with a maximum term of four years, would generate about $70 million for teacher and support staff salaries.
"You're the largest employer in this community," VUE President Elizabeth Albert said to the School Board. "There are thousands of people that work here and have worked here, that want to support our public schools, that believe in the work that teachers and staff and administrators and trades people do every single day, and they want to help."
Albert said that, based on a recent poll of Volusia County voters, a proposed school millage referendum is positioned to pass with 62% of the vote.
The referendum would not impact pay for the superintendent and her cabinet.
School Board Chair Ruben Colon and Board member Jamie Haynes voted no on moving the referendum forward, for different reasons. Colon felt the timing for a new sales tax was wrong because families in his district are facing financial challenges.
"I think we have two years to get it right, to be ready, and should the time, economically in our country become better — which everybody always has the hopes of — at that time, we would have a fully executed plan that would be, through collaboration, ready to be brought forth," Colon said.
Haynes said she needed to hear all of the terms and steps of the referendum before she could give her approval.
"I can love the big picture, but we need the details," she said. "People listening today need to know the details."
Though the remaining three School Board members supported the referendum, there was hesitation about the idea of increasing taxes.
School Board member Donna Brosemer said she believed the referendum should go to the voters, but wasn't in favor of the district endorsing it.
"Maybe the more practical way for us to approach this, and more appropriate way for us to approach this, is to agree to let this go to the voters and for the district to use its voice to encourage the public to get educated about this," she said.
Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said that if the board chooses to move forward with the referendum, it would be a collaborative process. Board members would have to be prepared to facilitate educational sessions in their districts. Education on the referendum wouldn't fall solely on the district and VUE.
"This is all of us," she said. "All of you will be engaged — highly, highly engaged."
VCS currently has a half-cent sales tax, which can only be used for capital projects — like building schools, facility renovations and purchasing technology or vehicles. Voters first approved a half-cent sales tax for schools in 2001; it was extended for another 15 years in 2014. The extension took effect in 2017 and will run through the end of 2031.
The starting teacher salary for the 2025-2026 school year in Volusia was $49,201, according to data shared by district staff. Through bargaining, that has been increased to $50,000. The average teacher pay in the district is $52,613.
VCS Chief Financial Officer Deidra Whittenberger said the district does face competitive pressure with its teacher and support staff salaries.
"We are comparatively lower medium household income than other neighboring districts," she said. "However, additional local revenue through an operational millage referendum could support compensation and programs. It is important to balance the needs of the community's overall economic capacity and the potential taxpayer impact."
While its starting teacher salary is competitive with other districts, its average teacher salary is lower. Seminole, Orange and Brevard, for example, have an average teacher salary of $56,650, $59,309, and $55,213, respectively.
However, like cities and counties throughout Florida, VCS is concerned about the governor's proposed property tax reform. While the current proposal doesn't eliminate levies for school districts, Whittenberger said, "We do not know the long-term proposals or future policy changes that could modify this structure."
Meaning, as counties and cities look to offset the loss of property taxes, they could look to an increased sales tax of their own and an expansion of taxable goods as new revenue sources.
"Property tax reform discussions create uncertainty around future funding," Whittenberger said. "While the school may appear protected now, longterm impacts are still unclear. The timing of a referendum should consider both current operational needs and the evolving economic and legislative environment."
On May 12, the School Board will hold a vote to place the referendum on the ballot. If it passes, the proposal would then go before the Volusia County Council for approval.
