Duval Teachers See First One-Mill Pay Supplements Hit Paychecks

Jacksonville teachers in Duval County Public Schools began seeing the benefits of voter-approved funding Friday, with supplements hitting paychecks for the first time. According to a district news release on duvalschools.org, certified teachers will receive between $5,400 and $7,000 annually, scaled to their base salary, while support staff like paraprofessionals and office workers get more than $3,000. The one-mill property tax, voluntarily approved by Duval voters in 2022, is projected to generate nearly $89 million this year, per the release. Nearly $58 million of the district's share will fund these supplements, as required by Florida statute, with charter schools receiving just under $20 million based on enrollment. Duval Schools Human Resources outlines compensation details on its website, noting this as a key retention tool. A 2021 Jacksonville Public Education Fund study, available via eric.ed.gov, highlighted school-level teacher retention at about 75%, with 25% turnover annually, often due to intra-district transfers. The supplements address persistent staffing shortages in a tight Florida job market, where the unemployment rate dropped to 2.8% in April 2026. Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed HB 1461, tying school funding to performance metrics, which could amplify pressure on districts like Duval to retain effective educators. Duval's efforts align with state priorities amid economic recovery and education reforms. Support personnel supplements exceed $3,000, aiding roles critical to schools across neighborhoods from Riverside to the Beaches. While not a new 'retention bonus program' as sometimes reported, the recurring pay boosts from the one-mill funding provide sustained incentives. District leaders emphasize this as a direct response to teacher recruitment challenges documented in prior years.