Marion County School Board adopts tentative 6.32 mills, $1.285 billion budget for 2025-26

The Marion County School Board on July 29, 2025 adopted tentative millage rates totaling 6.32 mills and a tentative fiscal year 2025-26 budget of $1,285,332,143 after a public hearing at which no members of the public spoke.

The tentative rates include a required local effort millage of 3.058 mills, a prior-period adjustment millage of 0.014 mills, a discretionary millage of 0.748 mills, a capital improvement millage of 1.5 mills and an additional voted (referendum) millage of 1.0 mill, for a combined total of 6.32 mills. Interim Superintendent Dr. Danielle Burrow recommended adoption of the millages and the tentative budget, and the board voted to approve both items by voice vote, each announced as passing 3-0.

Board members and district staff framed the tentative numbers as necessary to secure state funding and to respond to local revenue changes. Boston Ellis, a district finance staff member, summarized the schedule and goals for the budget process and said, "We're on roller skates now," referring to the compressed timeline for work sessions and hearings. Dr. Burrow told the board, "The tentative budget has not been amended since the board received it on July 22, 2025," and recommended adoption of the tentative millages and budget as presented.

Why it matters: The board…