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Board approves publication of tentative 2025–26 budget and millage ads; hearing set for Aug. 5
Summary
The board voted to publish the tentative 2025–26 budget and millage notices and selected Aug. 5 at 5:30 p.m. for the required TRIM budget hearing; staff outlined TRIM timing, millage breakdown and capital items.
The Gadsden County School Board voted July 24 to approve publishing the tentative 2025–26 budget and related TRIM/millage advertisements, and set a district budget hearing for Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 5:30 p.m.
Ms. Bruner explained the TRIM timeline and the basis for the district's revenue estimates, saying the Department of Education and Department of Revenue provide certifying figures that determine required local effort. She told the board the public hearing must fall two to five days after the newspaper publishes the notice; the board chose Aug. 5 for the hearing.
On millage, Ms. Bruner said the district's proposed breakdown is: required local effort 2.974 mills, a prior period adjustment 0.026 mills, discretionary operating 0.748 mills and local capital improvement 1.500 mills, for a total of 5.248 mills. She said the required portion decreased by about 1.01 percent but the proposed tax levy rises because of increased property values.
The tentative budget advertisement lists capital items the district may fund, including construction and remodeling for a PreK–8 school, general maintenance, purchase of buses and vehicles and furniture for the new school. Ms. Bruner also noted the district is still using a placeholder for the fund balance as of July 1, 2025 while staff completes the 2024–25 closeout.
Board members asked about debt service for an older loan tied to Havana Magnet School. Ms. Bruner said the loan is with Truist Bank and that payments are in the debt-service column; she said the loan payoff is expected in 2026–27 and payments are made annually. A board member asked for the loan's interest rate; Ms. Bruner agreed to provide that information via email.
The board approved a motion to publish the tentative budget and millage advertisements with the corrected hearing date; the motion carried with one oppose. Ms. Bruner reminded the board that only the tentative budget may be adjusted before final adoption; the millage as advertised must remain the same unless the board pursues an additional millage question to voters.
Staff said they will finish the 2024–25 closeout by Sept. 11 and aim for a final budget hearing on Sept. 3 to adopt the final 2025–26 budget.
No education items were presented at the meeting; the board concluded with member requests and adjourned.
