Miami (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade’s teachers union has come up with an innovative way to raise money for education.

Not, it’s not a massive bake sale or car wash.

On Tuesday the union announced plans to call for a tax amnesty program. It would encourage residents illegally claiming a homestead exemption to come clean.

The teachers union says the revenue is needed to give teachers with competitive salaries without raising taxes on year-round residents.

A former Miami-Dade police major estimated that there is roughly $280,000 in uncollected taxes. Figures show that about 40 percent of that would go toward education.

Last year, Washington state did a similar amnesty meant for violators of the law and received $320.7 million.

The amnesty would include an advertising campaign connecting tax evasion with the effect on school children and would be followed up with higher penalties

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