State lawmakers signed off on a provision earlier this year allowing local school districts to add no more than a quarter mill to property tax rates. All seven board members agreed repeated years of budget cuts are taking a toll on classrooms.

"This is not a quarter mill that we just want to apply because we can," board member Nancy Broner said. "This is a time for us to protect the classrooms."

Board chairman Tommy Hazouri says the property tax rate hike will add, on average, about $29 to homeowners' property tax bills and generate $18 million to help offset a budget shortfall.

"I think this is a very small price to pay for quality education," Hazouri said. "We do need took for other revenues."

Board members Stan Jordan and W.C. Gentry both voted against the millage rate hike, questioning how the money would be spent and the timing of any tax hike.

"Mr. Chairman, don't lose the fact that businesses are closing right down the street," Jordan said.

"Last year we cut everything we could that didn't directly affect the classroom," board member Vickie Drake responded. "And so this year everything we touched, everything we touched, hurt children."

The state law only allows a one time millage rate hike for school districts. If the Duval County school board wants to keep the millage rate at the new level, voters will have to approve extending the property tax hike on the November 2010 ballot.

The next round of property tax bills are due in November. Jacksonville City Council is expected to vote on a proposed city-wide millage rate hike later this month.