TAVARES — In 2018 and 2022, Lake County voters approved a 0.75-mill tax dedicated to essential school safety and mental health resources. A referendum, which will be on the November 3 ballot, asks voters to continue that support, which pays for School Resource Deputies and Officers, School Safety Guardians, alternative educational programs, and mental health professionals such as school psychologists, social workers, and mental health liaisons, who are trained to address challenges early, alongside a qualified nurse stationed on every district campus.
Voters will not only have the opportunity to continue critical school safety and mental health support but, through a proposed additional 0.25 mills, they may also choose to give the school district much-needed funding to help retain and recruit high-quality teachers through competitive compensation.
If approved, the 1-mill property tax will go into effect on July 1, 2027, and extend through June 30, 2031. The proposed increase equals an estimated $4.69 per month for a home with an assessed value of $250,000 minus the homestead exemption.
To ensure complete transparency and accountability, all spending will be reviewed and audited by an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee composed of local community members. Additionally, all expenditures must receive final approval from the School Board in alignment with state guidelines and ballot specifications.
Lake County Schools invites local business, civic, and community groups to learn more about the referendum. Presentations can be requested through the district’s Speakers Bureau Request Form.
For more information, visit www.lake.k12.fl.us and click on the “Referendum” button, or email LCSCommunications@lake.k12.fl.us.