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 must adopt tentative millages and a tentative budget to meet statutory deadlines and to qualify for state funding that depends on the locally required effort. The district's property-assessed value rose from about $38.7 billion last year to about $42.9 billion this year, an increase of 10.86% that affects taxable value and revenue projections.

Key revenue and budget figures provided to the board included: required local effort totals of roughly $126.5 million; an estimated $31 million if the full 0.748 discretionary mill is levied (with a potential $15 million compression adjustment tied to that levy); projected additional revenue of about $41.2 million from the 1-mill referendum; and about $61.8 million from the 1.5-mill capital improvement levy. The district estimates total local contribution from millage at roughly $260 million, about $24 million more than the prior year.

Officials also highlighted two recently restored or new local revenue sources: educational impact fees (projected about $9 million) reinstated July 1, 2024, and a half-cent sales surtax approved by voters in November 2024 and effective Jan. 1, 2025 (projected roughly $40 million). District staff noted that for the 2024-25 fiscal year the district received about $11.7 million in impact fees (including about $60,000 in interest) and estimated about $20.1 million in sales surtax receipts through May and anticipated June and quarterly payments.

Budget totals by fund presented to the board showed a combined all-funds tentative budget of about $1.285 billion, roughly $50 million less than the prior year's adopted budget. Staff attributed most of the decrease to the expiration of ESSER federal funding and the drawdown of borrowed funds used previously for construction; two new schools are expected to come online soon, which also affects capital funding needs. The general fund combined (operating fund, adult education and referendum) was presented at about $652.9 million, representing roughly 51% of the all-funds total. Capital projects were reported at about $372 million; special revenue grants at about $60 million; food service (restricted) at about $75.3 million; debt service about $27 million; and internal service funds (insurance) around $99 million.

Staff reported a projected increase in unweighted full-time-equivalent (FTE) students of approximately 1,875 from the prior calculation, and an increase of $41.62 in the base student allocation. Officials noted that charter schools will receive portions of the 1.5 capital outlay, the referendum and the sales surtax allocations based predominantly on unweighted FTE counts.

Board members praised voter support for local measures that boost district revenue. Dr. Sarah James said the district will receive "over a $100,000,000 directly reflected from the voters taking action in recent elections," referring to combined referendum and sales surtax revenue, and called that level of local support significant. Board member Nancy Thrower echoed the appreciation and said the board waited as long as possible to ask the community for additional funding.

The board officially opened the public hearing on the millages and asked for public comment; seeing none, it moved to a vote. Doctor Sarah James moved adoption of the tentative millages and the motion was seconded by Nancy Thrower; the board announced the motion passed, 3-0. The board followed the same motion/second pattern to adopt the tentative budget in the amount of $1,285,332,143; that motion likewise passed, 3-0.

Next steps: The board set detailed work sessions on the general fund for 9 a.m. on Aug. 7 and on remaining funds for Aug. 14 (with an additional meeting on Aug. 21 if needed). The final budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025. Staff also directed the public to the district's website for budget documents and the transparency portal required by Florida law.