Duval's 1-Mill School Tax Renewal and 3 School Board Races on the Nov. 3 Ballot: Who Is Running and What's at Stake

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Duval County voters will decide Tuesday, Nov. 3, whether to continue a 1-mill property tax that pays for teacher salary supplements and arts and athletics programs, and they will pick new School Board members in Districts 2, 4 and 6. None of the three board races has an incumbent. Early voting ends Sunday, Nov. 1.

The 1-mill question

The tax is $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, or about $300 a year for the average Jacksonville homeowner, according to Jacksonville Today. Voters first approved it in 2022, and the renewal would last four years. The district projects about $121 million in revenue, with 88% going to teacher salaries and the rest to arts and athletics, and charter schools receive a share based on enrollment, according to Florida Trib.

District officials say the supplement works out to about $8,668 per staff member, including teachers and school police. Jacksonville Today reported that teachers would lose about that amount a year if the tax is not extended. The City Council voted 15-0 on June 9 to put the question on the ballot after the School Board voted 6-1 in March, with Chair Charlotte Joyce casting the lone no vote.

Superintendent Christopher Bernier said the local measure is separate from Amendment 3, the statewide property tax cut that shares the ballot. He said "'No' means no continuation. 'Yes' means continuation."

District 4: Rhodesia Butler vs. James Jacobs

The seat is open because Darryl Willie is term-limited. Rhodesia "Rho" Butler, a former Duval teacher and assistant principal who now works for the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida, supports the tax. She lists closing the achievement gap and school safety as priorities and has raised just under $40,000, with donors including Vestcor and Duval Teachers United.

James "Coach" Jacobs has run for School Board and City Council before. He worked for Charter Schools USA until resigning in June, and Jacksonville Today reported he declined a full interview. He has raised nearly $18,000, and the article did not state his position on the tax.

District 2: Donovan Bradley vs. Donna Mae Westrich

Donna Mae Westrich has taught for more than 20 years, most recently science at Fletcher High School. She says teachers "have been relying on that...stipend." She has raised $28,764, with top donors including teachers' unions and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.

Donovan Bradley is a 26-year-old Republican political strategist and a Fletcher High graduate who also supports the tax. His platform includes more opportunities for students who do not plan to attend college and less technology in classrooms. He has raised more than $108,000, and 76 donors gave the $1,000 maximum.

District 6: Lindsey Denmark vs. Clarence "CJ" James

Clarence "CJ" James is a Duval County School Police sergeant and retired Jacksonville Sheriff's Office lieutenant. He supports the tax, calls school safety his top priority and has raised more than $117,000. He backs letting school staff keep guns in their cars on campus.

Lindsey Denmark, a real estate agent, opposes the tax. She has said that if it fails, "it's going to force the hand of the district to make some changes." She homeschools her son, supports school choice, also backs the car-gun proposal, and has raised more than $121,000.

Source: Jacksonville Today (Oct. 28 and June 9, 2026) and Florida Trib (Oct. 7, 2026), reviewed by Jax Times. Fundraising totals are as reported by Jacksonville Today.