Alachua School Board adopts $604.1 million budget and millage rate; levy exceeds rollback by 5.07%

The School Board of Alachua County on Sept. 9 adopted a $604,094,340 final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved the millage rates that will fund it, voting 5-0 on both measures during a public hearing.

The budget vote followed a presentation by district budget staff and discussion by board members about the composition of revenue, restricted transfers from capital funds and rollover balances from the prior year. The board approved resolution 26-03 on the millage levies and resolution 26-04 adopting the final budget.

District staff presented the revenue picture behind the budget, noting that increases in required local effort (RLE) reduce state FEFP formula payments. “At first glance, I would think the district has nearly $10,000,000 of new revenue. Unfortunately, that's not what happens,” budget presenter Judy Marte said, describing how a roughly $5,000,000 RLE increase offsets state funding. Marte told the board that the total computed millage rate exceeds the rollback rate calculated under Florida Statute 200.065(1) by 5.07% and read the statutory resolution into the record before the vote.

The board approved the levies the presenter read into the record, including the required local effort (amount to be raised $82,181,116; levy 2.979…