Why do you need a millage rate increase?

Every county is different. In Hernando County, we have relatively low property values. Millage rates have steadily declined over the past 10 years. The millage has not increased for many years. That combination puts us behind other districts and this 1 mill request just brings the rate up to where it used to be. At the same time, there’s a national teacher shortage. We must have competitive salaries to recruit and retain quality teachers. Our teachers make less than the state average, but they’re not average teachers. We need to pay them what they’re worth or risk losing them.