Lee County School Board OKs $3 billion budget
The School District of Lee County board approved a more than $3 billion budget during its final hearing Tuesday night.
The vote was not unanimous.
Board Member Debbie Jordan, the only nay, said the percent rate has grown significantly for the central support budget, while the direct instructional expenditures for teachers, supplies, and materials have gone down.
“Nothing has changed on what I was worried about, and concerned about,” said Jordan, adding the board should be conservative with the funds, which is why she cannot vote in favor of the budget.
Board Member Sam Fisher said in addition to decrease in enrollment, state funding issues, and vouchers, the district is still trying to deal with the impact of ESSER funding — more than $300 million they are still catching up on, since it was one time funding.
“We are still dealing with the aftermath of that,” Fisher said.
The total budget approved for fiscal year 2026-27 is $3,055,366,436.
Budget Director Kelly Letcher said the tentative budget was proposed at more than $3.1 billion, and the final budget had a decrease of $66,930,043.
The board also approved the general operating budget of $1,235,517,029; special revenue budget of $112,661,519; debt service budget of $79,856,739; capital outlay budget of $1,414,571,664; and the internal service budget of $212,759,485.
The required local effort mills of 3.023 — a 0.048 decrease, which will raise $498,553,688; the basic discretionary operating millage of 0.748, which will raise $123,360,291; and the capital outlay millage of 1.500, which will raise $247,380,262, were also approved.
The total millage for 2026-27 is 5.271 mills, a decrease of 0.048 mills, which will raise a total amount of $869,294,241. The total millage rate to be levied is less than the roll back rate, which is a decrease of 1.97%.
Letcher said the new millage rate of 5.271 will raise $5.71 million more because of the increase in the tax roll.
One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable valuation.
Chief Finance Officer Sarah Cox said the 2026 outlook projection went from $47 million net operating deficiency to closing the books at $44.6 million net operating deficiency. She said this has an effect on their fund balance brought forward from 2026.
“There are about five, or six different funds — the daily operating being the largest. It has a reduction from $185.7 million to $140.8 million in the fund balance,” Cox said.
The budget supports 120 schools and more than 100,000 students.