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Leon County school board adopts tentative 5.366 millage, shifts $7.5 million from capital outlay to balance budget
Summary
The Leon County School Board on July 29 adopted a tentative millage of 5.366 mills and a tentative FY2025–26 budget, moving $7.5 million from capital outlay to the general fund to meet the state-mandated 3% unrestricted fund balance. A final hearing is set for Sept. 9.
The Leon County School Board on July 29 adopted tentative millage rates totaling 5.366 mills and approved a tentative budget for fiscal year 2025–26.
CFO Miss Sanders told the board the proposed millage breaks down to a required local effort of 3.118 mills, 0.748 mills for discretionary operating purposes and 1.5 mills for capital outlay. The tentative budget totals approximately $645,000,000 across general, special revenue, debt service, capital outlay and trust funds and is about 2.5% less than last year, Sanders said.
To close an immediate shortfall and end the year at the 3% unrestricted fund balance required by state law, Sanders and district staff said the board shifted $7,500,000 from capital outlay into the general fund (a $3,000,000 prior transfer plus $4,500,000 budgeted for 2025–26). "We took advantage of the capital outlay, salaries, and benefits of bus drivers and did a transfer of $3,000,000," Sanders said. The superintendent added the move is a one‑time stopgap and urged the board and community to prepare for further cost pressures.
Board members pressed staff on the practical effects of moving capital outlay dollars. One member asked whether projects such as roof replacements, playground equipment and other renovations would be deferred; the superintendent and Sanders answered that some projects will slow and the district hoped to protect schools and classrooms where possible. "It's robbing Peter to pay Paul," one board member said, noting the district also has the half‑cent sales tax revenue that typically funds capital work.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolutions determining revenues and millage and to adopt the tentative millage rates and tentative budget as presented. The board also scheduled the required public hearing to adopt final millage rates and the final budget for Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Aquilina C. Howell Center, 3955 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee.
Next steps: staff will continue to refine the budget and bring a final budget and millage to the board at the Sept. 9 public hearing. The superintendent said staff would pursue cost‑saving measures and additional analysis in the coming weeks.
