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School board approves $7.8 million preliminary budget reduction for 2026–27
Summary
The board approved a preliminary $7.8 million budget reduction proposal for the 2026–27 school year that trims district cost centers, staffing, arts and athletics and community group funding; the superintendent said the cuts prepare the district for a conservative revenue projection and can be revisited after the legislative session.
The Leon County School Board approved a superintendent‑recommended preliminary budget reduction totaling $7,800,000 for the 2026–27 fiscal year at its March 24 meeting.
The superintendent described the package as a prudential step to prepare for a near‑term revenue outlook that is expected to be flat and said the district will revisit the recommendations after the Florida Legislature concludes its session. "We do hope that when the legislature returns that we will have better news," the superintendent said, adding the board can restore items if revenue improves.
The proposal presented to the board included a district cost center reduction of 5.67% (about $2,381,310), a staffing plan reduction of roughly $4,800,048, a 50% reduction in arts and athletics funding equaling $500,000, and a $125,000 reduction for community groups. Board members acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions and thanked staff for months of work preparing the recommendation; some members emphasized the human stories behind each number.
After discussion and public comment earlier in the meeting, the board approved the recommendation by recorded vote (motion, second; recorded in meeting minutes). The superintendent said principals will continue to work on a case‑by‑case basis with schools to refine staffing plans and that the district will attempt to preserve supports where possible.
The board also noted the district will reopen the school choice window on April 1 for any schools with available seats and encouraged families to accept offers before the March 31 acceptance deadline; the superintendent said more than 5,200 of 5,700 applicants had accepted offers to date.
