- April 23, 2024
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Volusia County Schools is planning to set a tentative millage rate of 5.482 mills — or $5.482 per $1,000 of taxable values — for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a tax rate that is 9.02% above the rollback rate.
A large portion of the total millage, known as the "required local effort" is determined by the state. This millage has continued to decline, but still accounts for 3.230 mills of the total property tax rate. A portion of the tax levy, which is forecasted to amount over $307 million this upcoming year, is required under state law for the school board to receive $243.7 million in state education grants, according to the district's notice of the proposed tax increase.
How much will a homeowner have to pay in school taxes next fiscal year? Per the district's presentation, a home with an assessed property value of $185,759 and a homestead exemption of $25,000 will pay $881.28.
Next fiscal year's summary budget totals $1.37 billion, up from $1.173 billion in 2021-2022. This figure includes ESSER funds, which are federal dollars the district has received for coronavirus relief.
Looking at a glance, the public may think the school district is floating in money, said Volusia County School Board member Linda Cuthbert. But, the reality is different, she explained.
"I think one thing that I was taken aback by is how much the state tells us where our money goes," Cuthbert said. "We have very little freedom to spend the money as we see fit, according to what our Volusia County needs are."
The base student allocation is increasing by $214.49 to $4,587.40. Volusia County Schools Budget Director Melissa Brown said that equates to about $14.8 million, though the district needs to use those dollars to fund the minimum wage increase to $15 for all employees, additional wages and retirement increases.
School Board member Jamie Haynes reiterated the point that the district does not have much choice when it comes to setting the millage rate, and that the rate has been lowering annually. However, rising property values in the housing market impact how much taxes homeowners will pay.
"We don't have the flexibility that the cities and the county has of setting those millage rates, and I just really wish people would become educated and understand that we don't make these decisions," Haynes said. "What we do is we adopt the budget based on what the state allows for us."
However, she is looking forward to having conversations about increasing salaries for the district's most experienced teachers. The starting base salary for all teachers was recently raised to $47,500.
"[Experienced teachers] are the knowledge base that are helping [new teachers]," Haynes said. "I think we've got to start here and start pulling them up now — do away with that compression piece."
School Board member Carl Persis said safety and security for schools is a top priority and wished to allocate more ESSER funds towards that, if possible. School Board member Anita Burnette agreed.
"Our safety is something that we definitely have to put as a priority, right up there with mental health," Burnette said. "Those are both paramount because they kind of work hand in hand."
School Board Chair Ruben Colon said this is "the year of people," and that the district is going to invest in its employees.
"I think for a long time we bought shiny things, and things are important — you have to have some things," Colon said. "Even though we've taken all of these steps forward, the race is going so fast that we're still behind."
He said the district needs to find new ways to attract and retain employees.
The next public hearing and adoption of the district budget will take place on Sept. 13.
