Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leon County School Board adopts tentative 2025–26 millage, schedules final hearing for Sept. 9
Summary
The Leon County School Board on July 29 adopted a tentative millage rate of 5.366 mills and a tentative FY2025–26 budget of roughly $645 million, approving a one-year transfer of $7.5 million from capital outlay to shore up the district’s required 3% fund balance; a final hearing is set for Sept. 9.
The Leon County School Board voted unanimously July 29 to adopt a tentative millage rate of 5.366 mills and a tentative budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year, setting a final public hearing for 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Aquilina C. Howell Center in Tallahassee.
The board’s adopted millage breaks down to a required local effort of 3.118 mills, a discretionary operating rate of 0.748 mills and a capital outlay levy of 1.5 mills. CFO Miss Sanders said the tentative budget is approximately $645,000,000 across general, special revenue, debt service, capital outlay and agency trust funds and is about 2.5% below the prior year.
Why it matters: the district is balancing lower recurring federal support and rising costs. Superintendent (unnamed) told the board the district had transferred $7.5 million from capital outlay into the general fund as a one‑year stopgap to reach the statutorily required 3% unrestricted fund balance. “To stay afloat this year, we were forced, basically to move that $7,500,000 over,” the superintendent said, adding that the move slows some capital projects such as roof replacements and major maintenance.
Board members pressed staff on the impact to schools and asked for public clarity on what the capital outlay reduction means for building repairs and future projects. Staff said some projects would slow but not all capital spending was halted; they also noted the district expects to unfreeze certain federal‑derived special revenue (Title funds) when it brings a final budget in September.
The board also adopted a resolution determining revenues and millage and authorized staff to notify the property appraiser and publish the required TRIM notices. The motion to adopt the tentative millage, the tentative budget and to schedule the final hearing passed unanimously.
Next steps: the district will finalize the budget discussion in September, when it expects to include restored Title funds and present any final adjustments; the public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025 at 6 p.m. at the Aquilina C. Howell Center.
