Voters in Charlotte County are being bombarded by referendums having to do with taxes on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Charlotte County government wants to continue its 1%, or penny, sales tax to fund several huge projects. There is also a small .2 mill Conservation Charlotte tax to purchase sensitive or environmental parcels that voters will be asked to approve.

And, statewide, voters will have to decide if they want to roll the dice and approve Amendment 3, which will cut property taxes for those with homestead exemptions.

Finally, Charlotte County Public Schools is asking to continue its 1 mill of tax that has been used to, among other things, give teachers a pay boost.

But — much like the Charlotte County sales tax — the school tax has provided huge benefits.

There are few instances where voters can better see the real impact on a tax they pay. That is why voters approved this tax the last time it was on the ballot with 77% in favor. To pass, it only needs more than 50%.

So why should voters saddle themselves with another tax when the economy is struggling and filling up your gas tank is almost double what it was a year ago?

The tax has enabled Charlotte County to recruit some of the best teachers ever — ranking eighth in the state in salaries for first-year teachers.

“We were able to hire 90 additional positions, including paraprofessionals,” Charlotte County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Vianello said. “If this passes, we can hire 112 this year.

“All the funds go directly to benefit staff — not administrators or principals, but to paraprofessionals, reading and math coaches, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and teachers.”

School Board Member John LeClair said when he was principal at Port Charlotte Middle, before the first tax was approved, he would have only eight to 10 applicants for job vacancies.

Now, there are 20 to 30 quality applicants each year — some from Sarasota and Lee county schools.

Also, as we’ve written, the Charlotte County Public Schools earned an “A” grade from the state this year — the first “A” grade since 2000. There are only two C-rated schools in the county and no D or F schools.

“We’re the 15th fastest improving school district in the state,” Vianello said. “And our reading and math grades are much better — K-2 are in the top 10 in the state.”

On top of all that, Charlotte schools had a record 92% graduation rate last year and is on track for 93% this year.

The school district has been transparent about where the money will go.

It goes to:

Salaries — to retain good staff and compete with neighboring countiesSecurity specialists, deans, reading and math coachesArt & Music programsAthleticsWorkforce developmentIncreased instructional time — an extra 30 minutes each day — which has made a big difference. That adds up to 90 hours a year for each student. Multiply that by the 13 years a child attends school, and you can see how that extra class time adds up.

To make sure the money is going to the right place and not wasted, an independent volunteer oversight committee was formed. The 13-person committee is responsible to make sure the money is allocated to the right places and used like was promised in the ballot language.

If this referendum fails, it will cost the schools at least $28 million.

“That will mean cuts in teachers and administration,” Vianello said.

If voters appreciate strong schools — which are always a key consideration for newcomers and for businesses and industry that are looking for locations — then they should support this tax.

We recommend voting for the Charlotte County Schools tax referendum.