Citrus County School Board adopts $346.2 million budget, sets millage at 5.351 mills

The Citrus County School Board adopted a $346,222,255 final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved a total millage rate of 5.351 mills at a public hearing on Sept. 9. The levy includes a required local effort rate of 3.098 mills, a prior‑period adjustment of 0.005 mills, a discretionary operating millage of 0.748 mills and a district local capital improvement levy of 1.5 mills.

The board opened a statutorily required public hearing and the district attorney read the draft resolution describing the revenues and millages to be levied, citing Florida Statutes 1011.04 and 1011.71. Superintendent Scott Hebert confirmed the district’s certified taxable value at $18,164,668,183 and said the total levy exceeds the rollback rate by 4.44 percent.

Board members moved to include the supplemental 0.748‑mill and 1.5‑mill capital outlay amounts in the official resolution and then voted to adopt the final budget as presented. The motions passed by voice vote.

Board members asked staff about the timing and accessibility of financial reports; finance staff and the superintendent committed to earlier distribution of packet materials so trustees have more time to review budget documents before votes.

The vote followed approval of Budget Amendment No. 10 for fiscal year 2024–25 and acceptance of the district’s annual financial report, both presented earlier in the meeting.

The resolution adopted at the hearing directs staff to implement the budget and millage rates as presented and to file the adopted documents in accordance with Florida statutory requirements. The district will publish the adopted rates and the full budget as required by law.

The board adjourned the public hearing portion of the meeting after the votes and proceeded with other agenda items.