Santa Rosa School Board adopts $316.1 million operating budget, approves 5.414 mills total millage

The Santa Rosa County School Board on Sept. 9 adopted the district’s final fiscal 2025–26 budget and approved property tax rates that together total 5.414 mills.

At a public hearing, the board unanimously approved required local effort millage at 3.166 mills, discretionary millage at 0.748 mills and capital outlay millage at 1.5 mills. The operating budget was adopted at $316,134,730.54 and the total budget for all funds at $534,064,569.35.

Chief Financial Officer Susan McColl said the district’s general fund balance declined by about $700,000 between the tentative and final budgets after the state posted year‑end entries and other receivables and payables. McColl and staff told the board the district is over‑projected by 602 FTE (full‑time equivalent students) compared with state calculations; if that gap holds after the October survey the district could need to return funds to the state. To avoid a shortfall, she said the board set aside approximately $6.02 million in contingency related to projected FTE variances, including $1.1 million that had been a pass‑through for a closed statewide virtual charter school.

Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber said the FTE shortfall represents about a 2% enrollment decline compared with last year — roughly 400 students dispersed across the county — and emphasized that the district is not planning school closures and is proceeding with construction of a new high school.

Board members discussed budget composition and confirmed that roughly 75% of operating costs go to employees. The board voted on each millage and the full budget in separate motions; all votes carried without recorded opposition.

Next steps: the district will submit the adopted budget and required documents to the Florida Department of Education as required by statute.