The Volusia County School Board on July 29 approved tentative millage rates for fiscal year 2025–26 and adopted a tentative operating budget of $1,175,237,213, with a final public hearing and adoption set for Sept. 9. The board voted unanimously to approve both the resolution levying the tentative ad valorem property tax millage rates and the resolution adopting the tentative budget.

District staff told the board the proposed total millage rate is 5.279 mills. The superintendent’s presentation said the required local effort component is 3.031 mills; the board’s discretionary local capital millage is 1.5 mills; and the discretionary operating portion is 0.748 mills. Presentation slides explained that, under state TRIM rules, the proposed total exceeds the rollback rate and therefore required an advertised notice of a proposed tax increase.

Why it matters: although the per‑mill rate is slightly lower than prior years, staff emphasized that the total tax levy can grow because of rising taxable property values and changes in student counts. The CFO’s presentation showed the district’s total tentative budget across all funds at about $1.175 billion and described revenue declines tied to lower traditional/virtual student enrollment and an ongoing shift of some students to scholarship programs.

Board discussion and staff details: Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and district finance staff walked the board through the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) basics, TRIM requirements and the district’s revenue and expenditure outlook. Staff said estimated general‑fund revenues decreased year over year largely because of a projected drop of 1,421 students in traditional and virtual programs and the continued growth of scholarship (private school choice) programs. The presentation noted a planned “controlled spend‑down” of fund balance; staff said the tentative operating gap is roughly $8.94 million and that the district has been using one‑time reserves set aside in prior years to maintain staffing and critical services while enrollment shifts occur.

Staff also highlighted other budget drivers: the end of pandemic federal ESSER funding (which inflated last year’s budget totals), planned capital and bond activity, and a $6.5 million shortfall tied to state recalculation/proration that affected a recent payment. The district reported it is evaluating possible debt refunding tied to the 2016 issue that could yield net present value savings.

Public comment and board remarks: Two members of the public raised affordability concerns; one asked the board to exhaust every efficiency option before any tax impact on neighbors, and another described an individual facing tax foreclosure and urged caution before any tax increases. Board members responded that the state sets required local effort components and that the board’s adopted rate follows the state‑calculated requirement; several board members encouraged residents with tax hardship to use the county appraisal office appeal processes and said the district will continue searching for savings.

What happens next: By law the board adopted tentative millage and budget at the hearing on July 29; staff will present a final budget for board approval at the Sept. 9 final public hearing. The board’s vote on July 29 was unanimous to adopt both the tentative millage resolution and the tentative budget resolution.

Ending: The district posted budget documents and fiscal transparency materials online; staff said more detailed revenue and FTE reports (including the state’s fourth‑calculation data) will be incorporated into the final budget packet for September.