Marion County School Board receives $1.2 billion tentative budget for advertising, schedules July 28 public hearing

The Marion County School Board on July 21 received the tentative 2026–27 budget, approved it for advertising only and set a public hearing for Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the School Board Room. Chair Sarah James opened the special meeting and put the motion before the board; the motion was moved by board member Eric Cummings and seconded by board member Lori Conrad. The board voted to approve the motion, with the chair announcing, "Motion passes 4-0."

CFO Rios Welsh presented the budget as the meeting's central item and described it as "the tentative budget for the 26–27 school year," calling it a starting point for upcoming review. Welsh said the district is presenting a $1,200,000,000 all-funds budget that includes a carryover balance of $345,700,000, which he said represents a decrease of about 6 percent (roughly $78,700,000) from the prior year. "What you have before you today is, the tentative budget for the 26–27 school year," Welsh said.

Welsh told the board that Marion County's taxable property value increased by about $3.7 billion year over year (an increase he gave as roughly 8.7 percent), producing an estimated $282,000,000 in local tax revenue. He explained that the district must meet the required local effort to draw down state FEFP funding and said fund-level breakout includes $169,900,000 in the general fund and $67,000,000 in capital outlay for maintenance and construction.

Welsh also highlighted that approximately $77,200,000 in Family Empowerment Scholarships (FES) will be "siphoned off the top and passed through" to participating families, noting those dollars are not available for district operational spending. "That's correct," he said when board member Nancy Thrower asked whether the FES funds are being passed through rather than retained by the district.

Board member Lori Conrad asked Welsh to read the budget calendar into the record for transparency. Welsh, assisted by budgeting director Miss Markham, outlined a schedule that includes a Truth in Millage (TRIM) advertisement, the July 28 tentative millage and budget hearing, submission of tentative millage rates to the property appraiser on July 29, three August work sessions (Aug. 6 for the general fund; Aug. 13 for remaining funds; Aug. 20 reserved if needed), and final adoption steps in September with required compliance filings in October. Welsh said the final budget adoption will be completed in September and compliance certifications will follow by October.

After brief closing remarks and thanks to staff for working through compressed timelines, Chair James moved the motion to receive the tentative budget, approve it for advertising purposes only, and set the public hearing for July 28 at 5:30 p.m. Eric Cummings moved the motion and Lori Conrad seconded it. The chair called for the vote and announced the motion passed 4-0. Chair James said the proposed budget will be posted on the Marion County School District website on Wednesday morning, July 22, 2026.

The board adjourned at 5:46 p.m. The board's next public discussion of budget details will begin with the Aug. 6 work session on the general fund, followed by additional sessions on Aug. 13 and, if needed, Aug. 20, with final adoption expected in September.