JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Councilwoman Tyrona Clark-Murray turned her focus toward the upcoming November ballot during a town hall meeting at Hyde Park Elementary on Thursday night, even as her own professional future remains uncertain.
Clark-Murray, who is currently facing a potential suspension without pay from her position as a teacher with Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), addressed a small but engaged group of constituents. The meeting primarily centered on the arguments surrounding Amendment 3 and the school district’s push to renew a 1-mill property tax.
The councilwoman’s personal situation cast a shadow over the event. Earlier this week, DCPS confirmed that Clark-Murray had been removed from her classroom following an ongoing human resources investigation. When pressed for comment regarding the pending school board vote on her suspension, she remained guarded.
“I can’t say anything right now, but I’m going to confer with my lawyer, and we’re going to talk about whether or not we’re going to host a press conference after,” Clark-Murray told reporters.
Despite the personal scrutiny, Clark-Murray proceeded with her scheduled town hall to lobby against Amendment 3 and advocate for the 1-mill school tax renewal. She emphasized the significant fiscal consequences she believes the city faces if Amendment 3 passes, warning attendees that the short-term benefit of individual tax savings would be far outweighed by long-term municipal losses.
“These are some crucial times,” Clark-Murray said during the discussion. “What I want to do, my goal is to educate my constituents… to help them come to that conclusion that, hey, yes, I may save $1,000, but my city is going to lose hundreds of millions.”
The session sparked a lively dialogue among residents, with several attendees expressing concerns over the tightening of city and personal budgets. Daniel Hagans, a constituent in attendance, said he came seeking clarity and left with a firm decision to vote against Amendment 3. “I wanted to get an explanation of it, and my councilperson did a good job doing that,” Hagans said.
Transitioning to the topic of the DCPS 1-mill tax renewal, Clark-Murray argued that the funding is essential for teacher recruitment and retention. The district has stated the measure is vital for providing supplemental pay to educators, offering an additional $8,000 to $9,000 annually.
“Florida ranks dead last in terms of teacher pay — last,” Clark-Murray noted. “So the 1-mill is going to do a few things… It’s going to help with teacher retention.”
Hagans, noting that his niece is a local school principal, voiced his support for the renewal. “It may cost me some extra money or more money, but I think in the end it’ll be well worth whatever financial cost is required to fund that,” he said.
Both issues are set to appear on the Duval County ballot this November.
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