Pinellas County School Board adopts 6.293 mills, $1.8 billion budget; 1-mill referendum cited as main revenue driver

The Pinellas County School Board voted 6-0 on Sept. 9 to adopt a total millage rate of 6.293 mills and a proposed budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that district staff said totals roughly $1.8 billion.

Superintendent Hendrick told the board the voter-approved local referendum — which increased from 0.5 mill to 1 mill after the November 2024 referendum — is “the primary driver of this year’s revenue growth.” He and budget staff said the referendum will generate about $73.9 million and that local referendum dollars account for most of the district’s new operating revenue for the year.

The board approved detailed millage components as presented: required local effort 3.045 mills, discretionary local effort 0.748 mills, local referendum 1.000 mill and capital outlay 1.500 mills, for a total of 6.293 mills. Staff said the total local revenue generated under that rate is projected at about $919.8 million. The proposed operating budget was presented as approximately $1.1 billion, with capital outlay proposed at roughly $389 million. The district said local sources represent about 65% of operating revenue and state sources about 23%.

Why it matters: the board emphasized that the referendum funds are earmarked for teacher and staff salary supplements and for programs the referendum promised, and that the state’s funding and reconciliation related to family empowerment scholarships remain unsettled. Superintendent Hendrick said the district expects additional state reconciliation dollars but that final figures await the FEFP fourth calculation, which could change last year’s actuals.

Key details presented by district staff include: - Proposed total millage: 6.293 mills (approved 6-0). - Estimated county gross taxable value (school district portion): $152.3 billion (≈ +1.1% year over year). - Estimated revenue from 1 mill (after assumed 96% collection): ≈ $146.2 million. - Additional revenue from referendum change (0.5→1.0 mill): ≈ $73.9 million. - Total proposed budget across all funds: ≈ $1.8 billion; general fund ≈ $1.1 billion; capital outlay ≈ $389 million. - Operating budget: ≈ 56% salaries, 24% benefits; about 80% of operating budget is staffing.

Superintendent Hendrick also flagged a reconciliation issue that affected summer FEFP payments and cost the district about $2 million; he said final reconciliation normally occurs with the fourth calculation in the spring. Samantha Chastain, the district’s executive director of budget allocation, provided the statutory context for TRIM advertising and walked through the rollback rate, which the district said the proposed rate exceeded because of the referendum change.

Public comment at the hearing included two speakers who criticized capital spending and the budget’s implications for homeowners. One speaker described a projected school tax amount for a sample homeowner and called the increase “outrageous.” Another speaker urged the board to consider seniors on fixed incomes. The board adopted the millage and budget after the public comment period and votes. All motions related to millage and budget passage passed 6-0.

The board also adopted a resolution determining revenues and millages and approved the final budget as presented. District staff said budget documents and supporting schedules are on file with the budget office and available online.

Looking ahead: staff said enrollment counts and FEFP reconciliation remain subject to updates through the October count and the state’s fourth calculation, and the district will revisit numbers as final state information becomes available.