To the Voters and Residents of Hillsborough County:
For nearly 40 years, Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) has worked alongside Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) to help ensure every student receives an outstanding public education. As an organization solely dedicated to supporting public education in Hillsborough County, we understand firsthand that student success depends not only on what happens in the classroom, but also on creating the conditions students and educators need to thrive.
That is why, on behalf of Hillsborough Education Foundation and our Board of Directors, we proudly support the renewal of the Half-Penny Promise and encourage Hillsborough County voters to vote yes on Referendum 3 this November.
Students deserve to learn in schools that are safe, comfortable, modern, and equipped to support their success. Teachers deserve work environments where they can focus on what they do best: inspiring, challenging and preparing students for their futures. The Half-Penny Promise is an essential investment in creating and maintaining those environments across our community.
Since Hillsborough County voters approved the half-penny sales tax in 2018, more than $1.3 billion has been invested in facilities, safety, and technology across all 206 HCPS schools. More than 900 projects have been completed so far, and every school has received at least $500,000 in improvements. These projects have addressed critical needs including air conditioning, roofs, safety and security systems, technology, playgrounds, and athletic facilities. This investment has also benefited our broader community, with more than $680 million in work awarded to local businesses, supporting local jobs and families while improving schools across the district.
These investments are about much more than buildings. The quality of a student’s learning environment matters. When classrooms are comfortable, technology is reliable and campuses are safe and well maintained, students are better positioned to focus on learning and teachers are better equipped to help them succeed. Strong learning environments help create the conditions for strong student outcomes, and they are a critical part of delivering the high-quality public education our students deserve.
It is worth remembering what Hillsborough County schools looked like before this tax existed. There was little to no funding available for capital improvements. Buildings deteriorated year after year, air conditioners failed in the Florida heat with no replacement in sight, and roofs continued to leak with only patchwork solutions instead of replacement. The half-penny sales tax not only addressed those problems, but it also gave our district the ability to plan and invest in a way that had simply never been possible before. If we allow this tax to lapse, we are not maintaining the status quo; we are choosing to return to it.
This November, voters will decide whether to continue this investment for another 10 years, beginning January 1, 2029. It is important to be clear about what that means. Referendum 3 is not a new tax or a tax increase. It renews the same half-penny sales tax voters approved in 2018. The renewal maintains the independent Community Oversight Committee, public audits and reporting that provide accountability for how these dollars are spent, with funding dedicated directly to improving our schools. More than 20% of the revenue is paid by visitors to our region, and the average Hillsborough County household pays an estimated $86 per year.
After nearly four decades of supporting public education in Hillsborough County, we continue to believe strong public schools are the foundation of a strong community. We have seen firsthand the difference sustained community investment can make and what is possible when our community comes together around a shared commitment to giving every student the opportunity to succeed.
Our students deserve learning environments that reflect how deeply this community values their education and their future. Our teachers deserve schools that allow them to do their best work. Continuing this investment will maintain the funding that supports school improvements and facility needs across the district for future generations, ensuring every student has the learning environment they need and deserve.
Hillsborough Education Foundation urges Hillsborough County voters to vote YES on Referendum 3 on November 3 and renew the Half-Penny Promise.
Sincerely,
Anna Corman
President & CEO
Hillsborough Education Foundation
