1/2 Penny Sale Tax Renewal
Building for the Future: 2026 Half Penny Sales Tax Renewal
A rock solid investment in YOUR students, YOUR schools, and YOUR community
Our district and community continue to grow, and we remain dedicated to providing a safe, innovative, and supportive learning environment for all students. By working together, we can continue to ensure that every student has the resources and surroundings they need to succeed.
The ½ Penny Difference
The half-cent sales tax has established a reliable and transparent method for investing in the public schools of Leon County. It funds essential improvements, such as enhanced safety on campuses, modernized classrooms, and necessary facility upgrades at every school. Since the tax is specifically allocated for capital projects, it ensures that funds intended for classrooms remain available for teachers and students, while also maintaining school facilities without increasing property taxes. This tax allows visitors and commuters to contribute to the costs, making it one of the most efficient and equitable ways to support local education. Ultimately, it is projected to raise approximately $480 million to support local schools and community needs without raising property taxes for residents, saving local homeowners and renters nearly half a billion dollars in taxes that will instead be shared equitably across all our local sectors.
$400 Million
$1.1 Billion
35 Years
70,000+
(-$620 Million)
44
Proposed Projects
Here are some sample projects that the proposed 2027 ½-penny sales tax renewal will enable us to provide to our local community:
Building Tomorrow, Together
This ½ penny sales tax represents a shared investment in our students and our community’s future. Follow us on social media and download the ParentSquare App to receive important updates and stay informed on the latest projects happening in our district.
Current Notices
Overview
Effective January 1, 2023, Fla. Stat. § 50.0311 has updated the requirements for public notices previously published in newspapers of general circulation. Below are recent public notices and legal advertisements for the Leon County School Board.
Note: Per Fla. Stat. § 286.011 – Any meeting posted below is hereby being publicly noticed per these requirements. One or more school board members may or may not be in attendance at any of these meetings, but no board deliberations or voting by the board members will take place at such meetings.
September 2026
Members of the community are invited to attend any of the upcoming public information meetings to learn about and discuss the proposed 1/2-cent sales tax referendum appearing on the ballot Tuesday, November 3, 2026. These sessions offer residents an opportunity to receive detailed information on how the proposed local option sales tax would be implemented, the specific public projects and infrastructure improvements it would fund, and the financial accountability measures attached to the revenue. Following a presentation by school district leadership, attendees will have a dedicated Q&A session to ask questions, share feedback, and better understand how this measure may impact the local economy and community development before casting their votes.
OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE
School District Referendum Continuing Sales Surtax to Fund School Technology, Safety, Transportation and Facilities Improvements
To help improve safety and security, maintain high-quality classrooms, and reduce classroom overcrowding by expanding, constructing, and improving school facilities, technology, and transportation, with revenues collected to be shared with eligible charter schools pursuant to Florida law, shall the school district of Leon County continue to levy a one-half cent sales surtax for fifteen years to fund such activities for Leon County schools, with review by a School Board-appointed citizen advisory committee?
Note: This is an extension of an existing tax, not a new one. Leon County voters have approved this same half-penny surtax twice before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions? Contact us, and we’ll be happy to help!
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The ½ penny sales tax funds are dedicated to school technology, safety, transportation, and long-term facility improvements and cannot be used for salaries or daily operating expenses.
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District leaders, staff members and community members have worked diligently over the past several months to examine current challenges, future enrollment projections, and long-term facility needs in our district.
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- Raa Middle School – New Gymnasium/Performing Arts Center, Classroom Wings, Office/Media Center
- Riley Elementary School – NewClassroomWing, Cafeteria/Performing Arts Center, Office/Media Center
- Cobb Middle School- New Classroom Wings, Gymnasium/Performing Arts Center, Cafeteria
- Godby High School – New Classroom Wings
- Sabal Palm Elementary School – Complete School Buildout
- Chiles High School – New Wing and Schoolwide Renovation Project
- Montford Middle School – NewClassroomWing
- Deerlake Middle School – Schoolwide Renovation Project
- Swift Creek Middle School - Schoolwide Renovation Project
- Woodville K-8 School – NewClassroomWing, Gymnasium/PerformingArtsCenter
- Bradfordville Bus Compound (Chiles High School)
- Astoria Park Elementary School - Schoolwide Renovation Project
- Kate Sullivan Elementary School – Schoolwide Renovation Project
- Land Acquisitions for Potential Elementary, K-8, Middle, and High School Sites
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There will be no increase in the effect on our community. This is not a new tax; rather, it is a reauthorization to continue collecting the ½-penny sales tax, which is essential for our local school district to provide services to the community. The ½-penny sales tax has been in effect for the last 15 years and was previously renewed in 2012 by voters to support the needs of the school district.
One of the significant advantages of utilizing a ½-penny sales tax is that it allows us to raise the required local effort funds equitably from everyone. This means that instead of increasing local property taxes, we can collect these funds through a more effective and diverse approach. This strategy not only enhances our local funding efforts, but it also enables us to generate revenue from tourism, visitors to the state capital, and game day sales. As a result, we can keep local property taxes and rent costs lower for our citizens.
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Updates will be shared through district announcements, public reports, and a dedicated citizen oversight committee, ensuring transparency and community involvement in our progress. as well as a citizen oversight committee.
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OFFICIAL BALLOT
School District of Leon County, Florida
Referendum Election - November 3, 2026
SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM CONTINUING SALES SURTAX TO FUND SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, AND FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS
To help retain high-quality teachers, reduce classroom overcrowding, and improve safety and security by expanding, constructing, and improving school facilities, technology and transportation, with revenues collected to be shared with eligible charter schools pursuant to Florida law, shall the school district of Leon County continue to levy a one-half cent sales surtax for fifteen years to fund such activities for Leon County schools, with oversight by a citizen oversight committee?
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The date for the Referendum Election of the ½ penny sales tax is Tuesday, November 3, 2026
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All qualified electors residing within Leon County, Florida, shall be entitled and permitted to vote at such referendum election on the proposition. Referendum election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered voters may cast their ballot at their regular polling location.
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Make plans to join us at one of our Community ½ penny sales tax Presentations:
Leon County Schools invites families, employees, and community members to attend an upcoming 1/2 Penny Sales Tax Information Meeting.
Each meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.
September 14 | Godby High
September 15 | Leon High
September 16 | Chiles High
September 23 | Rickards High
September 29 | Lincoln High*School Board Members may also be in attendance, and each meeting has been publicly noticed on the Leon County Schools website.
Can't make it to one of these events? Email us @ info@leonschools.net, and someone will be in touch!
Half Penny Sales Tax Questions
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
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