Charlotte County School Board adopts final millage, $567.49 million budget and approves routine contracts and plans

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — The Charlotte County School Board on Sept. 9 adopted final millage rates for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved a $567,490,578 final budget following a public hearing and presentation of the district’s funding picture.

Chief Financial Officer Marcus Allen presented the budget and millage information before the board. Allen said the total proposed millage rate is 6.288 mills — a decrease of 0.026 mills — and that the total millage to be levied is 0.58% less than the rollback rate. He told the board taxable values in Charlotte County are approximately $38,477,000,000, an increase of roughly $1.1 billion (about 3.1% from last year). Allen said budgeted tax levies at a 96% collection assumption are expected to yield just over $232 million across all funds and that operating funds total about $108 million of that amount.

The nut of the budget, Allen said, is that about 48% of the district’s roughly $567.5 million budget is for the general (operating) fund, with capital projects at about 28%, special revenue at 8% and debt service at 11%. He also told the board the district expects an increase of 614 students in funded full-time equivalents under the Florida Education Finance Program for 2025–26.

Board member Sumantri, who raised a procedural concern earlier in the summer about reserves, reiterated that concern during the vote discussion, saying the district is reducing reserves to the board-policy minimum. “We are taking our reserve down to the 10% minimum, which is what's required by board policy. That doesn't leave us a lot of cushion if the October count of students comes in different than what we're projecting,” she said, and added she would vote yes because she had “full confidence in the plan” and because district leaders committed to additional expense reductions if required.

All budget-related motions were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-004 — Adopt final millage rates for fiscal year 2025–26 (total 6.288 mills). Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote; no recorded opposition. - Resolution 2025-005 — Adopt final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 in the amount of $567,490,578. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote; no recorded opposition. - Initiate Florida instructional materials plan (English language arts K–12) for adoption year 2025–26. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Adopt three school board policies updated through the NEOLA process (as advertised). Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve consent agenda (10 routine items previously reviewed). Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve advertisement of policies reviewed at the workshop for required advertising prior to adoption. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve 2024–25 annual financial report to the Florida Commissioner of Education. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve 2024–25 budget amendment (to complete final budget reports). Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve contract with Instructure, Inc. as submitted. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve 2025–26 reunification plan (required by Florida statute). Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve mediated settlement agreement with Active Internet Technologies. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve participation agreement with the Florida Educator Health Trust. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve revised Charlotte County Public Schools scholarship fee pricing. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve personnel actions including job descriptions. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Approve the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards 2026 legislative platform proposal as drafted by the consortium. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote.

Why it matters The budget and millage decisions set local school tax rates and determine resource allocations for staffing, instruction, capital projects and support services for the coming year. The board’s approval of the budget also affirms the district’s plan to use reserve funds down to the board-policy minimum while retaining the option to make additional reductions if October enrollment counts differ from projections.

Details and context Marcus Allen described revenue and expenditure drivers: about 73% of expenditures are salaries and benefits; roughly 58% of spending is for direct instruction, and elementary schools account for about 26% of location-based costs. Allen also noted that the district’s share of FEFP funding from the state (about 20.5% this year) is lower than the state average district share, and that the referendum approved in 2022 remains a significant source of locally raised revenue.

Board discussion on the budget was limited. Board member Sumantri acknowledged staff responsiveness to questions and said she trusted district leadership to act “decisively” to protect the 10% reserve level if required. No members recorded opposition to the millage or budget resolutions.

What’s next The district will implement the adopted budget for fiscal year 2025–26; the board noted that the October student count could prompt adjustments. The referendum that supplies one mill of operating levy will next be up for renewal in 2026, per the presentation.