As Election Day approaches, United Teachers of Dade President Antonio “Tony” White is urging Miami-Dade voters to pay close attention to a ballot measure that he says plays a major role in supporting educators, school employees and campus safety.
Speaking at a community gathering in Miami, White encouraged voters to find ballot item 268, which asks voters to renew a local property tax referendum that helps fund teacher compensation and school safety initiatives in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
“I want you to turn to the back of that ballot to make sure you don’t miss this,” White told attendees, emphasizing the importance of the measure.
The referendum was first approved by voters in 2018 and renewed in 2022. If approved again on Nov. 3, 2026, it would extend the funding for another four years. The tax currently generates $100 for every $100,000 in assessed taxable property value.
White Says Educator Pay and School Safety Are at Stake
White, who said he is in his 32nd year as an educator in Miami-Dade County, represents approximately 22,000 education professionals through the United Teachers of Dade.
He argued that rising housing, insurance, transportation and grocery costs have made it increasingly difficult for education professionals to afford to live in the communities they serve.
“We cannot continue to expect excellent educators, school employees, and safety personnel to remain in Dade County if they cannot afford to live in the communities in which they serve,” White said.
He said the referendum was created to help address the gap between the cost of living and the compensation available to school employees. White also cited Florida’s education funding levels as a concern, arguing that local support is needed when state funding does not meet schools’ needs.
Education advocates say the referendum helps the district recruit and retain teachers as living costs rise. The district is also facing budget shortfalls, adding pressure to its financial planning.
Billions in Funding and Support for School Safety
White said the referendum has generated approximately $2.5 billion for Miami-Dade public schools since it began in 2018. He credited the funding with helping provide compensation supplements for instructional employees and support for school safety initiatives.
He also pointed to the district’s record of earning an A rating from Florida for eight consecutive years, saying that achievement reflects the work of students, families, educators, administrators and school support staff.
“This should never be a partisan issue,” White said, noting that school funding referendums have been approved in communities across Florida.
White said local school funding measures support students in communities across the state, including both rural and urban areas.
He urged voters to consider how the renewal could affect the district’s ability to retain experienced professionals and maintain school safety resources.
“Our working conditions as educators are our students’ learning conditions,” he said.
A Separate Debate Over Miami’s Public Waterfront
The event also featured a campaign video opposing Miami Referendum 3, a separate measure on the Nov. 3 ballot for City of Miami voters. The measure concerns a proposed long-term lease and redevelopment of approximately 27.62 acres on Virginia Key, including the Rickenbacker and Miami Marine Stadium marinas.
The official proposal calls for an initial 45-year lease, with two possible 15-year renewals. It includes at least $2.2 million in annual guaranteed rent to the city, plus a share of gross revenue, and approximately $80 million in privately funded improvements to the marina properties.
The video opposing the measure argued that the proposal could threaten public waterfront access and benefit outside developers. Those statements reflect the opponents’ position; supporters of the project have argued that the redevelopment would improve marina facilities and provide public amenities.
The two measures address different issues: ballot item 268 concerns continued funding for Miami-Dade public schools, while City of Miami Referendum 3 concerns the proposed Virginia Key waterfront lease. Voters should review the language of each question on their own ballot before making a decision.
For White, the school funding debate comes down to whether the community wants to continue the local investment it approved in previous elections.
“We brought the community together. The voters responded and our schools and children have truly benefited from this,” he said. “But now we have to protect what it is that we’ve built.”
The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. City of Miami Referendum 3 applies to eligible voters in the city, while the school funding referendum is a separate Miami-Dade County ballot question. Voters can review official election information and sample ballots through the City of Miami’s election website.
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