Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts 2026-27 millage rates and tentative budget after first public hearing
Summary
School CFO Jamie Lewis presented the district's proposed 2026-27 millage package (6.3340 mills) and tentative budget; the board adopted the millage and tentative budget after discussion about revenue mix, a projected healthcare cost increase, and the effect of enrollment declines on state funding.
At a July 28 public hearing, Hillsborough County Public Schools presented proposed millage rates and a tentative budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and adopted both after board discussion.
Chief Financial Officer Jamie Lewis walked the board through the TRIM/millage background, the Florida Education Finance Program and the three primary mill categories: required local effort, discretionary local effort and local capital improvement. Lewis recommended a total mill package of 6.3340 and described the revenue mix the district uses to build its general-fund budget: roughly 50% state FEFP funding and 40% local property taxes. Lewis told the board that the district expects approximately $48 million in additional health-care costs and that decreased enrollment will reduce state funding; he estimated a roughly $25 million decrease in state FEFP funding tied to the enrollment drop.
"If the mill rate had stayed the same and property values went up, which they often do, that would have been roughly about $3,000,000 extra dollars we would have received," Lewis said, illustrating how small mill changes translate to multi-million-dollar impacts in a large county.
Board members asked for clarifications on how the mill change would affect the overall budget and whether recent increases in the Base Student Allocation (BSA) would actually raise discretionary revenue. Member Vaughn said she wanted clearer graphics and historic comparisons to show the budget trends; Lewis agreed to provide more detailed figures. After discussion the board voted to adopt the proposed millage rates and to approve the tentative budget as presented. The board also authorized staff to perform actions necessary to comply with TRIM requirements in state statute chapter 200.
The superintendent and CFO noted that a final public hearing will be held on Sept. 15, when the board will consider adoption of final millage rates and the budget after the property appraiser and state finalize values.
