Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves tentative 2026–27 millage and budget, outlines TAN borrowing and staffing tradeoffs
Summary
The board adopted a tentative millage (6.343 mills) and tentative budget for 2026–27; CFO announced the district will seek up to $250 million in tax‑anticipation notes to manage cash flow. Teachers and union leaders urged prioritizing raises and affordable health care.
On July 28 the Orange County School Board adopted its tentative millage rates and the tentative 2026–27 budgets across funds, after extended public testimony from educators and union leaders pressing for higher pay and more affordable health care.
Member Felder moved the millage resolution setting total mills at 6.343 (required local effort 3.095, basic discretionary 0.748, additional voted 1.000, capital improvement 1.500); the motion carried unanimously. The board then approved the tentative budgets: General Fund $2,935,697,947; Special Revenue $341,016,392; Debt Service $207,753,821; Capital Projects $1,876,104,970; Internal Service $424,792,182. The board scheduled the final public hearing for 5:01 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2026 at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center.
Teachers and union leaders, including Clinton McCracken (Orange County Classroom Teachers Association), urged the board to prioritize compensation and affordable benefits. Multiple teachers described personal financial strain; an OCPS teacher said she could not afford new shoes for her child. The CFO, Doreen Concolino, explained the district will bring a resolution in August authorizing up to $250 million in tax‑anticipation notes (TANs) to address temporary cash‑flow needs between property‑tax receipt dates, and to cover any litigation‑related refunds withheld from property tax distributions.
Board members acknowledged constrained state funding and the need to balance salary, benefits and staff levels. Several trustees said the adopted tentative budget is a working document and pledged to continue searching for savings and health‑care strategies — and to prioritize any surplus funds toward educator pay when available.
