In Hillsborough County, voters appear to approve two tax measures

A pair of tax proposals to pay for Hillsborough County teacher raises and continued investment in parks, fire stations, roads and other public amenities appeared to win the blessing of voters Tuesday.

In other decisions, voters in Hillsborough appeared to oust the Democratic Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cindy Stuart, in favor of Victor Crist, a Republican who has served as a county commissioner and state legislator, with most precincts counted. They also appeared to strengthen a Republican majority on the County Commission, grant new terms to other constitutional officers on the ballot and return a longtime school board member to office.

Republican Chris Boles, a 55-year-old Hillsborough County Fire Rescue battalion chief, had 52% of the vote for the open countywide District 6 commission contest, based on unofficial returns for most precincts. Recently appointed Republican Christine Miller appeared headed to easy victory in the heavily conservative District 4 contest to represent eastern Hillsborough, and 22-year Republican Commissioner Ken Hagan appeared to have easily secured a new four-year term. Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez and Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer each held comfortable leads in securing new terms.

Meanwhile, school board member Lynn Gray looked to fend off a challenge in a year in which incumbents across the state faced vigorous challenges from conservative parents-rights groups.

Here's a further breakdown of the races by ballot question of office:

At the end of their ballots this year, Hillsborough County voters faced a pair of tax referenda, the results of which could shape how the county looks over the next 15 years and how one of its key institutions functions for the next five.

Each appeared headed for passage.

With all early and mail votes and most Election Day votes counted, about 52% of voters approved referendum No. 1, which renews the half-penny sales tax that has paid for infrastructure projects across the county — from roads, parks and libraries to Raymond James Stadium — over the past 30 years. The measure extends it for another 15 years, from its previous sunset date of 2026.

Hillsborough voters first passed the half-penny sales tax, formally the Community Investment Tax, in 1996. Since then, it has funded more than 700 projects countywide.

The extended tax will send 5% of the revenue to Hillsborough County Public Schools. The district has received 25% under the tax's initial run, but with its own referendum on the ballot this year, county commissioners decided its take should be smaller during the extension. The remaining 95% will be split between the county and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace based on population.

And by an overwhelming margin of 32 points late Tuesday, voters approved the second referendum, a tax of $1 per $1,000 of taxable property. Most of that money will become pay for school district employees: $6,000 apiece for teachers and administrators and $3,000 for other staff. The tax came two years after voters turned down a similar measure and months after a legal battle between the school district and the county resulted in the referendum being placed on the ballot.

County Commission In the one open race for County Commission, Boles had about 52% of the vote on Tuesday night, surging past former one-term state House Democrat Sean Shaw for the District 6 seat, a countywide position, with most precincts counted.

That outcome would mean that Republicans extended their majority on the board, now holding five of seven commission seats.

Hagan, 57, will continue as commissioner for District 2, representing parts of northern Hillsborough, after defeating challenger Patricia Altagracia Alonzo. Hagan, a Republican, has been on the Board of County Commissioners more than 20 years and has served as chairperson seven times.

Miller, 52, will continue as commissioner for Hillsborough County District 4 after gaining tktk% of the vote on Tuesday, in unofficial returns.

Miller was appointed to the seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis in July after Michael Owen unexpectedly resigned to run for the state House. She was sworn in at a small ceremony over the summer.

Constitutional officers Three of the county's constitutional officers faced general election challenges. Henriquez and Latimer held comfortable margins over their opponents, late Tuesday, but Stuart appeared to fall to Crist, who had about 51% of the vote late Tuesday, with most precincts reporting.

Both Henriquez and Latimer held commanding leads late Tuesday over far lesser known Republican challengers.

In the lone remaining school board contest, Gray, 72, appeared to secure another term in her seat, which she's held since 2016. Gray, a former teacher, represents District 7, a countywide position. She held a narrow lead late Tuesday over Karen Bendorf, a middle-school teacher who came in a close second to Gray in the August primary. Theirs was the only race this year that went to a November runoff after no candidate secured a majority of the vote in the primary.