Promises Kept

Since 2019, the Half-Penny Promise has improved every school in Hillsborough County.

text

What the 2018 Referendum Delivered

Since 2019, the Half-Penny Promise has delivered results across every school in Hillsborough County. Over 900 completed projects represent more than $1.272 billion invested in our schools, with nearly $700 million awarded to local businesses in the Tampa Bay region. 25% of that funding is paid by visitors to our county. No school receives just one project. Renovations build on each other, and the Half-Penny Promise ensures every investment counts. These are our promises kept.

HVAC Replacement

Blake High

One of the first and most pressing projects for the Half-Penny Promise was the HVAC system at Blake High School. The building opened in 1997, and by 2019, its 22-year-old system was desperately in need of replacement. A lack of capital improvement funding had left students in sweltering classrooms year after year.

The one-half cent sales tax changed that. Contractors replaced all 23 air handling units, 2 chillers, and 2 boilers, along with pumps and controls. The fire alarm system was updated with new smoke detectors and ductwork dampers, dehumidification was added to the gym and dance studios to protect the wood floors, and temporary climate control was provided for instrument storage, the IT closet, and administration. This $6.1 million project was completed in 73 days, with more than $5.7 million kept in the community with local businesses, 25% of which is paid by visitors to our county. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Hillsborough High

In 2025, Hillsborough High School completed a major HVAC renovation. Without the half-penny sales tax, the school’s aging system would have continued to fail students in one of Hillsborough County’s most historic buildings.

This $16.3 million project replaced the entire campus-wide HVAC system and relocated the central energy plant to a new facility outside the football stadium. The upgrade included more than 2,200 feet of hydronic piping, 261 air devices, new pumps, air handling units, and rooftop exhaust fans, all of which have significantly improved energy efficiency across campus. 25% of the half-penny sales tax revenue that funded this project is paid by visitors to our county. Not bad for a building that turns 100 this year. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Proposed Work

See what schools are proposed for HVAC Replacement with the 2028 Half-Penny Renewal

View Schools

Roof Replacement

Tomlin Middle

Tomlin Middle School is a clear example of what happens when a school goes too long without adequate investment. Aging infrastructure left students and teachers dealing with roof leaks, worn floors, and an HVAC system struggling to keep up. Without referendum funding, those problems would have compounded year after year.

The Half-Penny Promise changed that with a $20 million investment that touched nearly every corner of the campus. The roof was fully replaced and new insulation installed, floors and windows were repaired, the HVAC system received a complete overhaul, and the gymnasium was renovated. 25% of the one-half cent sales surtax revenue that made this possible is paid by visitors to our county. Tomlin’s students now learn in a building that reflects the investment they deserve. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Durant High

Built in 1995, Durant High School in Plant City was showing its age. With no money in the budget to address years of deferred maintenance, the school’s aging infrastructure was long overdue for attention.

The one-half cent sales tax changed everything. With $10 million in referendum funding, 25% of which is paid by visitors to our county, Durant received a comprehensive renovation that transformed the campus. Work included re-roofing, sealant replacement, exterior painting, door and hardware replacement, building signage updates, a chiller replacement, selective HVAC upgrades, a boiler replacement, propane tank relocation, and a full fire alarm replacement. Durant’s students are now learning in a modern, safe, and climate-controlled school. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Proposed Work

See what schools are proposed for Roof Replacement with the 2028 Half-Penny Renewal

View Schools

Athletic Facility Upgrades

Alonso High

Without the Half-Penny Promise, Alonso High School’s aging athletic facilities would have continued to fall short of what student athletes deserve. The one-half cent sales tax funded more than $10 million in improvements, including a new chilled water HVAC system and a complete demolition and modernization of the gymnasium, which now features state-of-the-art workout rooms and courts.

Outside, the campus received a new artificial grass field with a drainage system, along with new football goal posts, soccer goals, long jump lanes, and a high jump area. 25% of the one-half cent sales tax revenue that made this possible is paid by visitors to our county. From the gym to the field, Alonso’s student athletes now compete in facilities that match their talent and ambition. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Martinez Middle

Martinez Middle School may be only 24 years old, but even newer schools reach a point where major infrastructure begins to demand attention. Without the one-half cent sales tax, those needs would have gone unmet.

More than $4.5 million in referendum funding supported a gym floor refinish, an A/C overhaul, a new fire alarm system, fire evacuation improvements, network infrastructure upgrades, and interior and exterior painting and waterproofing. 25% of that funding is paid by visitors to our county. Thanks to the Half-Penny Promise, Martinez students have a building that will serve this community for generations to come. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Proposed Work

See what schools are proposed for Athletic Facility Upgrades with the 2028 One-Half Cent Renewal

View Schools

Playground Improvements

Alafia Elementary

The playgrounds at Alafia Elementary were showing their age. The equipment was worn, the fall surfaces were inadequate, and without the one-half cent sales tax, there was no funding available to address it.

The Half-Penny Promise prioritized these beloved spaces, and the Pre-K, K-3, and Grade 4-5 playgrounds were all upgraded with new, modern equipment and safer fall surfaces. A playground that was underfunded and underwhelming became an engaging, safer place where students develop the social skills and physical energy that help them succeed in the classroom. 25% of the one-half cent sales tax that made this possible is paid by visitors to our county. Every child deserves a safe place to play. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Proposed Work

See what schools are proposed for Playground Improvements with the 2028 One-Half Cent Renewal

View Schools

Safety And Security Upgrades

Brandon High

Sometimes a small investment makes a school dramatically safer. With the Half Penny Promise, schools have the flexibility to fund the projects that matter most for student safety. At Brandon High School, a project costing less than $200,000 has had an outsized impact on the safety of everyone who enters the building. Without this funding, the school’s entrance would have remained vulnerable.

The project added a security vestibule with an interior and exterior aluminum storefront, allowing visitors to register without fully entering the school, along with a fire exit sign and security camera. This approach was so effective that plans to duplicate it at schools across the district are already in progress, pending renewal of the Referendum 3, the one-half cent sales tax. That is the Half-Penny Promise working for every student who walks through those doors.

Freedom High & Liberty Middle

This unique campus serves 6^th – 12^th grade students with dedicated middle and high schools in New Tampa. Opened in 2002, Freedom High and Liberty Middle were showing more than 20 years of wear and tear, limping along with inadequate and aging infrastructure and no budget to address it.

The one-half cent sales tax funded a $13 million renovation of the existing 220,000-square-foot campus, 25% of which is paid by visitors to our county. Work included new acoustical ceilings, exterior paint, structural repairs, new air handling units, energy recovery and rooftop units, updated fire alarm systems, and electrical and low voltage upgrades. These improvements made Freedom and Liberty safer, more efficient, and more modern for their students. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Proposed Work

See what schools are proposed for Safety and Security Upgrades with the 2028 One-Half Cent Renewal

View Schools

Facility Renovations

Eisenhower Middle

During the summer of 2024, Eisenhower Middle School received approximately $7.2 million in campus improvement upgrades. Without referendum funding, these projects would have remained on a long list of unmet needs.

Work included a fresh coat of paint and waterproofing, a full gymnasium repair, and turf added to the front of the campus. These improvements gave Eisenhower students a school they can be proud of. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Dorothy Thomas Exceptional Center

Without the one-half cent sales tax, a project of this scale would not have been possible. Over $15 million in referendum funding supported this 2024 build at Dorothy Thomas Exceptional Center.

The new two-story building encompasses 27,098 square feet and includes a media center, cafeteria, administrative offices, 18 classrooms, meeting spaces, teacher planning areas, and a CTE lab. 25% of the one-half cent sales surtax revenue that made this possible is paid by visitors to our county. Every student deserves a world-class learning environment, and the Half-Penny Promise made that a reality for Hillsborough County’s most exceptional learners. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Proposed Work

See what schools are proposed for Facility Renovations with the 2028 One-Half Cent Renewal

View Schools

Technology Updates

Robinson High

Opened in 1959, Robinson High School had reached a point where years of underfunding left parts of the campus beyond repair. The one-half cent sales tax changed that with an estimated $58 million in combined renovation and replacement funding, 25% of which is paid by visitors to our county.

In addition to a brand new turf and track, nearly 186,000 square feet, equating to two-thirds of the campus, was replaced or rebuilt. Robinson also received a new fire alarm system, a modern HVAC system, state-of-the-art classrooms, and a Public Address system. From teardown to transformation, Robinson stands as one of the most powerful examples of what the Half-Penny Promise can deliver for our students. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Erwin Technical College

Erwin Technical College is a post-secondary institution and extension of Hillsborough County Public Schools, offering career-focused training for students seeking new skills and professional growth. Keeping pace with workforce demands means classrooms that reflect real-world, high-tech environments. Without the one-half cent sales tax, investments like these would not be possible.

The Half-Penny Promise funded the creation of a working surgical center where students engage in hands-on simulations, preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. 25% of the one-half cent sales surtax revenue that made this possible is paid by visitors to our county. The Half-Penny Promise is not just about maintaining our schools. It is about preparing students for the careers of tomorrow. That is the Half-Penny Promise kept.

Proposed Work

See what schools are proposed for Technology Updates with the 2028 One-Half Cent Renewal

View Schools

View Projects By School

See what projects have been completed and planned for a specific school.