Lee County School Board adopts tentative 2025-26 millage rates and $2.798 billion tentative budget

The Lee County School Board on July 29 unanimously approved tentative millage rates that total 5.319 mills and a tentative fiscal year 2025–26 budget of $2,798,172,189, setting a Sept. 9 final public hearing to adopt final levies and the budget.

The action follows presentations from district staff explaining required steps under Florida law for the Truth in Millage process and for public input. "This hearing is the first of 2 public hearings that are required under Florida statutes to give the public an opportunity to provide input into the proposed millage levy and the budget for this fiscal year," said Dr. Amy Desmores, one of the district presenters.

Why it matters: the adopted tentative millage is 1.43% above the rollback rate; if sustained, it will increase property-tax revenue available to the district and affect local taxpayers until the board acts in September. The board scheduled a final budget public hearing for Sept. 9 at 5:05 p.m. in the Lee County Public Education Center Boardroom.

Most important facts - Rollback and proposed rate: the rollback rate calculated for 2025 was 5.2441 mills; the board adopted a proposed total millage of 5.319 mills (a 1.43% increase over rollback). - Millage breakdown adopted (tentative): required local effort 3.071 mills (proposed amount to be raised $498,608,981); basic discretionary 0.748 mills (proposed amount $121,445,626); capital outlay 1.500 mills (proposed amount $243,540,694). The superintendent presented these as formal recommendations and the board approved them. - Tentative budget totals adopted: general operating $1,258,324,703; special revenue $117,280,254; debt service $71,050,046; capital outlay $1,129,782,490; internal service $221,734,696 for a total tentative budget of $2,798,172,189. - Revenue context explained by staff: the district reported a tax roll of approximately $169,000,000,000 (a 5.39% increase over last year), that about $1 billion of revenue is expected from the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), and that roughly 69% of operating dollars are budgeted for direct school instruction. - Reserves and contingencies: the district said it is holding the required contingency of no less than 3% of new revenue (about $29,800,000) and has additional reserves to manage carry-forward purchase orders and possible reductions, with an estimated fund-balance drawdown of about $17,000,000 from FY25 estimates.

What the board did at the meeting - The superintendent, Dr. Niece Carlin, filed seven formal recommendations covering the millage rates, resolutions, tentative budget adoption, acceptance of the 2025 certification of taxable value (Form DR-420s) and scheduling the final hearing. The board approved each recommendation by recorded votes that were 7-0.

Board comments and clarification Board members asked staff to confirm statutory sources for the required local effort. Dr. Amy Desmores and Kelly Letcher explained that the required local effort is set through the Florida Legislature and administered via the FEFP; the district must levy the required local effort to participate in state funding.

Next steps The board set a final public hearing on the final 2025–26 millage levies and the final budget for Sept. 9 at 5:05 p.m. District staff said final figures may change before that hearing as FY25 closeout figures and grant determinations are finalized.

Ending note The tentative budget presentation also noted the district's multi-year capital plan and priorities — safety and security, maintenance and renovation, technology and additional classroom capacity in the East Zone — and listed three new elementary schools, a middle school, a high school and a PK–8 as included in the five-year capital plan.