Florence 1 presents $208.9 million budget first reading; board told millage increase ties to SRO, facility needs

Florence School District 1 presented the first reading of its proposed FY2025–26 operating budget on the board’s May meeting, with total revenues of $208,942,723 and a proposed operating millage that administrators said would rise from the current 210.7 mills to 213.72 mills.

“Total budget revenues are going to be $208,942,723,” said Laura Shao, who led the budget presentation. Shao told trustees the district expects roughly $74,270,002 in local tax revenue (about 36% of total revenues), the remainder from state aid and transfers; she also listed an $8 million (4%) revenue increase over the prior year.

Shao said the increase in operating millage proposed this year is largely tied to security costs the district currently funds locally. “Contracted services for security personnel is costing the district $1,600,000 this year. That is all being paid by local tax dollars,” Shao told the board, and she said those costs equal the three…