The Alachua County School Board conducted its Truth in Millage (TRIM) hearing during the July 31 session and adopted resolutions setting tentative millage rates and the district's tentative budget for fiscal year 2025-26.

Judith Marte, a consultant serving as interim chief financial officer for the district, presented required TRIM disclosures and a first-pass tentative budget. Marte told the board the required local effort (a state-determined component of the millage tied to the Florida Education Finance Program) must be levied if the district wishes to participate in FEFP funding. She said the district's computed rollback and proposed rates were shown on presentation slides: the rollback rate would have been 5.8403 mills; the proposed total rate presented was 6.2501 mills, with details showing only the required local effort had increased in the state calculation.

Marte said the proposed budget projection of roughly $345.7 million (rounded on the table shown to the board) exceeds the currently approved budget largely because of roll-forward of categorical text-book money, an increased maintenance transfer linked to higher property insurance (the district is budgeting 16 months of property insurance in the near term), and planned capital spending. She told the board the state base student allocation rose by $41.62 per student but that overall district revenue is lower due to enrollment declines and the expansion of the Family Empowerment Scholarship program; she said more detailed enrollment and revenue numbers would be available at the final hearing on September 9.

Marte also reported that a federal decision earlier in the week meant held Title funds were being released and would be reflected in the final budget. She noted that the capital outlay millage (1.5 mills) would generate an estimated $41.38 million for capital projects and that charter schools receive their proportionate share of voter-approved operating millage.

After the presentation the board voted to adopt Resolution 26-01 determining millage levies and Resolution 26-02 adopting the tentative budget. The board also voted to amend a scrivener error in the resolution date before adopting the millage resolution. All motions passed unanimously on roll call.

At the end of the TRIM hearing the board recessed and resumed its regular business meeting. The superintendent and finance staff said they will present revised budget details and a more complete revenue picture on Sept. 9 at the final budget hearing when the district closes year-end activity and receives final state calculations.

What the board approved (high level):
- Required local effort and other components that make up a proposed total millage of approximately 6.2501 mills (presented as a proposed rate; formal adoption will occur at the final hearing).
- A tentative budget for 2025-26 that projects roughly $345.7 million in total funds before final adjustments.

Next steps: staff will close out year-end accounting, incorporate final state and federal allocations, and return to the board for a final public hearing and budget adoption on September 9, 2025.