Dr. Burns outlines renewal options for Nassau County’s voter-approved 1-mill; teachers and staff urge full renewal

Dr. Burns presented the Nassau County School District’s options for renewing the voter-approved 1-mill ad valorem operating millage at a board workshop, laying out revenue projections, four allocation scenarios and a timetable for placing a renewal on the ballot.

Dr. Burns said the district projects the 2025 1-mill collectible value at about $20.2 million, with an estimated 96% collection rate (roughly $19.4 million). Under current board guidance, 70% of that funding goes to employee compensation (roughly $13.6 million), with the remainder allocated to safety (12%), arts (9%) and athletics (9%). She described how unions (NTA and NESPA) and negotiated agreements determine the detailed distribution to employee groups.

Why it matters: school and district officials said the millage has raised beginning salaries above neighboring counties, helped retain staff and funded capital and program improvements — from turf fields and athletic trainers to band instruments and art teachers in every elementary school.

Public commenters — largely district employees and parents — urged the board to keep the full 1 mill on the ballot. "The millage funds have helped begin to close that gap," said Melissa Carr, a veteran educator, describing how millage dollars help offset insurance costs and support veteran teachers. Marion Phillips, president of the Nassau Educational Support Personnel Association, said the millage provides a living wage for support staff and should not be reduced. "Please support the full 1 mill," she told the board.

Parents and other speakers gave examples of student benefits tied to millage spending. A parent said new band instruments helped her son win a college band scholarship, and multiple speakers credited the millage with contributing to Nassau’s top statewide ranking.

Dr. Burns presented three lower-rate scenarios (including a 0.8-mill option) showing how reduced rates would preserve more or less of the compensation allocation while shrinking funds for arts, athletics and safety; she emphasized all projections are estimates based on 2025 certified property values and that the final revenue will not be known until collections are finalized. For example, a 0.8-mill scenario was shown with a collectible value of about $16.2 million (estimated receipt $15.5 million at 96% collection) and a larger share of the remaining budget concentrated on employee compensation in some proposals, which would still leave difficult tradeoffs for art teachers and athletic trainers.

Board members and Dr. Burns also discussed practical constraints: ballot language cannot include percentage breakdowns, the district must submit language and a resolution to the Board of County Commissioners and the Supervisor of Elections on set timelines, and a charter school approved for the county will take a future share of millage receipts (timing and amount not yet finalized). Dr. Burns recommended the board be prepared to decide a direction by April 9 to meet county and elections filing deadlines.

Board planning and next steps: board members agreed to add the millage item to upcoming meetings (agenda review on March 9, the board meeting on March 12 and a combined capital/millage workshop on March 23) so members can receive additional detail and finalize a position to move forward to the county. No formal vote or motion was recorded during the workshop.

What’s next: the board must settle which rate to place before voters and finalize ballot language and the accompanying resolution; the schedule Dr. Burns provided aims to allow time for county and election-office processing prior to whichever election the board chooses.