Marion County School Board adopts 2025–26 budget, sets millage 5.64% above rollback

The Marion County School Board on Sept. 9 adopted a $1,311,822,727 final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved a proposed total millage rate of 6.32 mills — 5.64% higher than the rolled-back rate of 5.9823 mills.

The action came at a special meeting called to hold public hearings on millages and the district budget. Interim Superintendent Danielle Brewer presented the final budget and the changes made since the tentative budget adopted July 29, 2025, and the board voted on a series of financial motions and reports during the hearing.

Board members said the budget reflects a combination of state-required local effort, grant carryovers and program funding while underscoring that much of the district’s spending is salaries and benefits. Dr. Danielle Brewer, interim superintendent, told the board the total millage “is greater than the rolled back rate by 5.64%.”

Public commenters at the hearing pressed the board about property tax bills and school performance. Dana Cawthon of Citra criticized the district’s outcomes and the recurring requests for more taxpayer funds, saying, “asking taxpayers to pay more and more every year…