Broward school board adopts tentative 6.4845 millage rate, approves $4.88 billion tentative budget; directs staff to model 4% pay increase

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The School Board of Broward County on July 29 adopted tentative millage rates that will raise an estimated $2.161 billion from local property taxes and approved a tentative district budget of $4,882,260,654 for fiscal year 2025–26, then directed district staff to return with a plan showing what a 4% compensation increase for employees would look like.

The board voted separately to adopt Resolution No. 26-112, setting the tentative millage at a combined 6.4845 mills (required local effort 3.072 mills; basic discretionary 0.748 mills; capital improvement 1.5 mills; voted referendum 1.0 mill; voted debt 0.1645 mills), and Resolution No. 26-113, adopting the tentative budget. Jeff Whitney, the district’s budget director, read each resolution into the record; both carried after voice votes.

Why it matters: The tentative millage exceeds the statutory rollback rate by 5.94%, triggering the Truth in Millage (TRIM) public-notice process and continuing the district toward final budget adoption in September. The board’s direction to show a 4% pay scenario puts employee compensation at the center of forthcoming budget deliberations and explicitly asks staff to identify offsets or cuts needed to fund a raise.

District presentation and key figures

Jeff Whitney, the district’s budget director, walked the board through the TRIM timeline and the revenue and expenditure assumptions underlying the tentative budget. Whitney said state calculations used in the presentation were the Department of Education’s second calculation (July 18) for 2025–26 and noted the district used DOE’s third calculation for 2024–25. Whitney told the board the district’s estimated general fund balance is about 4.1% for the tentative budget and that the district’s combined revenues from all funds were described in the presentation as “nearly $5.3 billion,” while the adopted tentative budget figure stated in Resolution No. 26-113 is $4,882,260,654.

The resolution adopted the following tentative millage components and estimated revenues as read by the budget director: • Required local effort (3.072 mills): $1,023,816,250 • Basic discretionary (0.748 mills): $249,288,593 • Capital improvement (1.5 mills): $499,910,279 • Voted referendum (1.0 mill): $333,273,519 • Voted debt (0.1645 mills): $54,823,494 Total levy: 6.4845 mills, raising $2,161,112,135.

What board members discussed

Board members praised district staff for reaching an estimated 4.1% fund balance after months of review. Dr. Alan Zeman and others thanked Superintendent Dr. V. Hepburn and Ms. Johnson, the district’s chief financial officer, for identifying efficiencies. At the same time, several board members pressed for clarity about recent budget errors and ongoing cost pressures.

Ms. Johnson acknowledged a year-to-year correction in fringe costs and said the district was ‘‘off by $25,000,000’’ in the prior year’s budget build and has implemented monthly account reconciliations and tighter month-end closing controls to prevent a recurrence. She also said the district’s self-funded health plan’s claims are running ‘‘about $327,000,000 a year’’ and that rising retirement (FRS) rates and other fringe increases are contributing to higher district costs that are not fully funded by the state.

Board members also discussed other budget drivers named in the presentation: a catch-up textbook adoption after a gap year, a large family empowerment scholarship adjustment (presented as roughly $325 million in the staff slides), and charter school pass-through funding (presented around $488 million). Whitney and staff emphasized that state calculations and later DOE updates could change final totals and that the district will return for a final adoption meeting on Sept. 9 and an educational facilities plan adoption on Sept. 3.

Motion on employee compensation

During the hearing, several board members pushed for raises. Dr. Seaman (speaker identified in the transcript as urging a $60 million set‑aside) said he would support directing the superintendent to find $60 million to fund a 4% compensation increase for staff. Chair (name not specified) moved to direct the superintendent and budget staff to bring back a budget that includes a 4% pay increase scenario; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. Ms. Johnson told the board the tentative budget before them did not yet contain a baked‑in compensation increase and that staff would return with scenarios showing where funds would need to be reallocated to support any raise amount.

Other operational issues and next steps

Board members asked staff to examine transportation efficiencies, staffing allocations at schools, contract reviews, overtime and travel reductions, and other administrative savings as potential offset sources. Several members emphasized more aggressive options — including repurposing or selling surplus properties and school consolidations — that could generate larger one‑time revenues, though those options were discussed as longer‑term and more complex undertakings.

The board’s actions at the hearing are tentative; state TRIM notifications and DOE calculations can change final revenue estimates. Staff will return to the board in public sessions and, at the board’s request, may brief the board in closed sessions on detailed compensation negotiations or cost‑reduction strategies prior to final budget adoption in September.

Votes at a glance

• Resolution No. 26-112 (Adopt tentative millage rates — total 6.4845 mills): Adopted by voice vote. (Read into record by Jeff Whitney.) • Resolution No. 26-113 (Adopt tentative budget — $4,882,260,654): Adopted by voice vote. (Read into record by Jeff Whitney.) • Motion to direct the superintendent and budget staff to return with a budget that includes a 4% compensation increase scenario: Motion made from the dais (mover not specified in the transcript); second noted; motion carried by voice vote.

Ending

Staff and board members said the tentative votes put the district on the TRIM timeline and that the board will have additional public meetings and opportunities to refine revenue and spending plans before the September adoption deadlines.