School Board announces property tax increase and capital outlay budget details

The Indian River County School District held a special meeting on July 15, 2025, to discuss the advertisement of the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice, which is essential for informing the public about upcoming property tax changes and budget updates. The meeting outlined the necessary steps for publishing notices regarding a property tax increase, school capital outlay, and a budget summary.

During the meeting, it was confirmed that the advertisements would be published in the TC Palm, a local newspaper, on July 25, 2025. These ads are required to be published within two to five days before the public hearing scheduled for July 28, where the tentative budget will be discussed. The meeting also highlighted that the certified taxable assessed value was received from the property appraiser's office on July 1, which is crucial for adjusting millage rates.

Key points discussed included the necessity of notifying the public about a property tax increase due to an increase in taxable assessed value. This notice is mandated when the voter-approved millage generates additional revenue. The meeting also addressed the school capital outlay plan, which funds maintenance, repairs, and the purchase of school buses, with a specific number of buses noted in the advertisement.

The budget summary included various millage rates, such as the 0.5 voter-approved operating millage and the maximum 1.5 capital millage. The required local effort millage, currently listed at 2.99, is essential for funding the budget as mandated by the state. The rollback rate, which indicates the millage needed to collect the same amount of revenue as the previous year, was also mentioned.

Looking ahead, the next budget workshops are scheduled for July 28 and August 25, with a second public hearing planned for September 9, where the final millage rates and budgets will be adopted. The meeting concluded with a summary of the required advertisements and the timeline for upcoming budget discussions, ensuring transparency and public awareness regarding the school district's financial planning.