Pasco board told proposed millage slightly lower; salary referendum remains crucial to staffing investments

Tammy and the district budget team reviewed the Truth-in-Millage timeline and millage history with the Pasco County School Board, noting that Florida law limits total millage to 10 mills and that required local effort and other components are set or calculated by the Florida Department of Education. Staff presented a proposed millage levy for the coming year that, including the district's voted (referendum) additional millage, represents a net decrease of about 0.057 mills versus last year. Tammy said that without the voted additional levy the district's millage would be 5.274 and that the state bases funding on the assumption the district will levy the full discretionary effort millage of 0.748; she cautioned the board that not levying discretionary effort can affect the district's state education funding. Using a $350,000 home as an example, staff showed the proposed levy would reduce school property taxes for that homeowner by $18.53, assuming other factors remain equal. Staff also reviewed the district's history of millage reductions since 1999 and that capital millage is now capped at 1.5 mills. Tammy and staff credited the 2022 voter-approved salary referendum with enabling salary investments the district says increased starting teacher pay by $2,500 and produced an average district salary increase of $5,800. Staff said the referendum funds help the district remain competitive with surrounding counties and support many nonadministrative positions including bus drivers, food nutrition staff and custodians. No formal vote was held at the workshop; the district reminded board members that two public hearings on proposed budget and millage must be held under Florida procedures, with the first scheduled next Tuesday at 6 p.m. on July 29.