Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Operational Millage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent outlines proposed 1-mill operational millage for Nov. 3 ballot
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Shanoff presented a proposed 1-mill operational millage to support teacher recruitment and retention, school safety/SRO funding, and extracurricular programs; he said the district faces a projected $100 million shortfall over four years and noted 29 Florida districts are pursuing similar measures.
Superintendent Dr. Shanoff told the School Board the district will ask voters on Nov. 3, 2026, to approve a 1-mill operational millage to fund day-to-day expenses such as staff compensation, safety and school resource officers, and extracurricular programs.
"The millage referendum is based on 3 key elements, recruitment and retention of high quality teachers and staff, the current safety and security posture we have in our schools, our SRO program, and the preservation of extracurricular academic programs, arts, music, athletics, and student activities," Dr. Shanoff said during an extended presentation to the board. He said operational millage revenue would be shared proportionately with charter schools and overseen by an independent citizens advisory board.
Dr. Shanoff cited declining state K–12 funding and said the district has already enacted austerity measures; he told the board the district is looking at about a $100,000,000 shortfall over the next four years and warned continued cuts would force additional position reductions and program and service reductions. He contrasted operational millage (which supports salaries and operations) with the district's existing sales tax, which by statute cannot be used for operational expenses.
Board members were given a slide with the official ballot language: to levy an ad valorem tax of 1 mill for four years, to be shared proportionately between public and charter schools with oversight by an independent citizens advisory committee. Dr. Shanoff said 29 other Florida districts are pursuing operational millage referenda this year and that local property values affect the revenue yield from one mill.
The presentation concluded with Dr. Shanoff offering to take board questions; no formal board action on placing the referendum on the ballot was recorded during this meeting.
Why it matters: school operational millage supports recurring costs such as staff salaries and school safety; a local approval would provide the district with a revenue stream that state funding reductions have not matched.
