Pinellas County property owners will see a lower school district tax rate this fall, although they might have to pay more than a year ago because of rising taxable values.
The school board on Tuesday approved a $1.77 billion budget that includes a tax rate of $5.938 per $1,000 of taxable value. That’s down 2.5 cents per $1,000, and less than any other time in the past 50 years.
It includes 50 cents per $1,000 from a voter-approved referendum, which helps pay for employee salaries, school arts programs and other expenses. The vote was not unanimous. Board members Stephanie Meyer and Dawn Peters opposed the tax rates, and Meyer voted against the budget.