Sarasota school board approves advertising tentative millage and budget for FY 2026-27

The Sarasota County School Board voted unanimously on July 21 to accept proposed millage rates totaling 5.929 mills and to approve the tentative FY 2026-27 budget for advertising ahead of the districts public hearings. The board adopted the motion to advertise the required notices that must precede the tentative budget hearing scheduled for July 28 and the final hearing on Sept. 15.

CFO Gabrielle Jeremchek presented the figures and legal timeline, telling the board that the states second FEFP calculation incorporated certified taxable values and that the district would publish statutory advertisements on July 24. "If approved today, the required advertisements will be published on Friday, July 24 in advance of the statutory deadline of July 27," Jeremchek said. She noted the districts proposed all-funds budget of about $1,300,000,000 and said general-fund operating expenditures were roughly 2.2% lower than the prior year.

Jeremchek explained that taxable values in Sarasota County rose about 1.52% for the 2026-27 fiscal year while the districts total millage would fall from 6.095 mills last year to a proposed 5.929 mills, which she said reduces the districts share of a tax bill by "approximately $16.60 for every $100,000 of taxable property value compared to last year." The board then moved and seconded the motions to accept the millage for advertising and to approve the tentative budget for advertising; both measures passed unanimously by voice vote.

The district will accept public comment at the tentative budget hearing on July 28; state law requires the board adopt tentative millage rates before adopting the tentative budget.