Putnam County School Board adopts tentative $478.99 million budget, sets tentative millage at 7.634 mills

The Putnam County School Board voted July 27 to adopt a tentative district budget of $478,991,223.75 and approved a tentative total millage rate of 7.634 mills.

Chair opened the meeting and, after presentation from Chief Financial Officer Jonathan, the board moved through a series of motions to adopt the tentative millage components — required local effort (3.125 mills), discretionary (0.748 mills), debt service (2.261 mills) and capital outlay (1.500 mills) — and the fund-by-fund tentative budgets. The motions were seconded and carried in roll-call votes; the board proceeded to adopt tentative budgets for the general fund ($131,807,894.73), debt service ($20,987,781.95), capital projects ($228,189,118.41), special revenue ($25,581,155.01), internal service ($44,743,346.00), permanent funds ($158,213.07) and enterprise funds ($27,523,714.58) before adopting the total tentative budget in its entirety.

Jonathan, the district CFO, framed the session as adoption of tentative figures that permit schools and departments to begin limited spending and open the Skyward budgeting system; he reminded the board that changes and millage reductions can be made prior to the final hearing. The board also voted to advise the property appraiser that the final public hearing on the millage and budget will be held Thursday, Sept. 11, 2026, at 5:05 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room at 200 Reed Street, Palatka.

"Motion passes unanimously," the Chair said after the initial agenda approval and the sequence of roll calls recorded unanimous adoption of the tentative items. The board discussed next steps for departmental adjustments and agreed to review further between now and the September hearing if needed.