Several important referendums will face Escambia County voters during the midterm elections, but only one will be on the primary election ballot.
Voters in Escambia County will vote in the primary election for a referendum on whether the school district should still appoint its own superintendent or if it should once again become an elected position.
A referendum to extend the Escambia one-cent sales tax another 11 years will be on November’s ballot. The Local Option Sales Tax annually generates $69 million on average and must be used to pay for infrastructure, economic development and operation and maintenance of parks and recreation programs.
Not sure how you would like to vote? We break down both referendums to help you decide.
Escambia County school district superintendent referendum
On Aug. 18, Escambia County voters will get to decide whether they will continue with appointing a school superintendent or revert back to electing one. If the referendum passes, the next school superintendent election would take place in 2028.
Ballot language: Shall the Superintendent of Schools of Escambia County, Florida, be elected by the majority of the qualified electors of Escambia County, Florida?
Arguments for appointed school superintendents:
Arguments for elected school superintendents:
Who put it on the ballot?
School board member Tom Harrell introduced the measure at a workshop. Harrell, Kevin Adams and Paul Fetsko voted in favor of the resolution at the Feb. 18, 2025 meeting. Carissa Bergosh and David Williams opposed it.
The measure was placed on the ballot after the Escambia County School Board received the school board’s request and voted 4 to 1 in favor of it; District 3 Commissioner Lumon May was the only nay vote.
Escambia one-cent sales tax referendum
In November, Escambia voters will decide whether to keep the county’s one-cent Local Option Sales Tax for another 11 years. The official ballot language for the referendum hasn’t been published yet.
What would the referendum do?
Voting in favor of the referendum would keep the one-cent surtax, which voters first approved in 1992. It has been extended three times since. The county says the one cent LOST annually generates $69 million on average.
If voters approve the referendum, the funds will be used for law enforcement, fire and public safety facilities and equipment, transportation and drainage improvements, infrastructure projects/public facilities, recreation/natural resources, jail/court facilities, capital equipment, community services, and economic development projects, per state law.
It must be spent on infrastructure, economic development and operation and maintenance of parks and recreation programs built or acquired with the surtax.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Now sure where you stand on Escambia referendums? What to know
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
