BROOKSVILLE — The Hernando County School District would spend $490.5 million next fiscal year — $12 million less than last year — without raising school taxes, under a tentative budget the school board approved July 28.
The board adopted the budget and the tax rate on 5-0 votes. The next meeting is set for 5:01 p.m. Sept. 8.
The proposed rate is 6.265 mills, 0.22% below the rolled-back rate — the rate that would raise the same amount of money from existing property as last year.
Under that rate, the owner of a $250,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption would pay $1,409.63 in school taxes, unchanged from this year. The owner of a $300,000 home with the same exemption would pay $1,722.88.
The county’s estimated taxable value came in at $21.76 billion, up $862.1 million from last year. School tax revenue would total $130.88 million, an increase of $5.18 million.
The rate breaks down as follows:
•Required local effort: 3.009
• Prior-year adjustment: 0.008
• Discretionary: 0.748
• Capital outlay: 1.500
• Additional voted millage: 1.000
The budget presentation is posted at hernandoschools.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx under the agenda packet for the July 28 hearing.
Retiring school resource officer honored
The board also honored Cpl. Shane Landgraff, who is retiring after 13 years as the school resource officer at West Hernando Middle School.
Landgraff began his public service career with the Florida Department of Corrections in 1995 and joined the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in 2002, said Angel Pagan, the district’s director of safe schools. He served in patrol before moving to the school resource officer unit.
“During that time, he became much more than a law enforcement officer,” Pagan said. “He was a mentor, a role model, a trusted confidant and a reassuring presence for countless students and staff.”
Pagan said Landgraff encouraged students and reassured parents their children were safe, describing him as present, approachable and compassionate. After his promotion to corporal, Landgraff mentored other deputies and worked to strengthen ties between the Sheriff’s Office and the district.
Landgraff accepted a plaque and thanked the board, school staff, his supervisors and his family. He said he might return in some capacity, then drew a standing ovation and posed for photos with his family and the board.
In other action
The board honored the late Lorain McClain, who taught elementary school in Hernando County for more than 30 years, was named the county’s first Teacher of the Year in 1989 and helped found the Hernando County Education Foundation. She died June 18 at 77.
The board also approved policies covering head lice, athletics, staff, driving, volunteers and student conduct, and a 42-item consent agenda that included charter school contracts, the district’s mental health plan, graduation dates, educational software, building services and a $4.2 million contract with Kelly Services for substitute teachers.
The meeting lasted just under an hour.