The proposed millage rate for the 2024-2025 fiscal year has been set at 1.54% higher than the rollback rate, which necessitates the advertisement of an increase in millage. The local Capital Improvement fund millage Levy of 1.0 is projected to raise $20,484,850. The required local effort millage levy is set at 2.98, with a base discretionary operating millage levy of 0.748, and a local capital improvement fund millage levy of 1.5. These millage rates are essential for generating revenue for the school district and have direct implications on homeowners’ taxes, especially in light of property value increases over the last 13 years.

During the meeting, a detailed overview of the budget was presented, covering the general fund, debt service, capital funds, federal programs, and internal service fund. The allocation of funds for various categories such as instruction, school safety, maintenance, and capital appropriations was discussed. The board members approved the adoption of the required millage levies and the tentative budget unanimously with a 5-0 vote. The public hearing for the final budget was set for September 12th, 2024.

The educational facilities plan presented by the director of facility planning was a focal point of the meeting. This plan outlined the county’s demographic trends, projected school needs, and the construction of new facilities to accommodate the projected increase in student enrollment. Areas of significant growth, such as Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Saratoga, and Governor’s Park, were identified. These areas alone are expected to bring in 6,700 students long term. The board expressed concerns about the timing of development approvals and the commencement of construction, with some projects delayed by economic factors.

However, with developments like Cross Creek building 400 homes in a year and others maintaining a steady pace of 50 to 100 homes per year, the need for proactive planning to address future overcrowding is clear. The board also discussed the potential for over 2100 new homes in Middleburg, with a projected student generation rate of 900 students. These projections underscore the urgency for additional classroom additions and the construction of new schools, particularly a new high school estimated to cost between $200 to $210 million. The board members focused on the challenges of managing such high growth without additional financial support and the need to explore all available funding options.

The costs associated with accommodating the student population growth were debated, particularly the cost per student station and the disparities in construction costs across different counties. The board scrutinized the various funding sources for future projects, emphasizing the need for track improvements at several high schools and the reduction of portable classrooms.