BROOKSVILLE — The Hernando County School Board has approved a $495.21 million budget for 2026-27 that holds the property tax rate steady and trims overall spending by $16.29 million.
The board set the millage unanimously at its Sept. 8 hearing but split 3-2 on the budget itself, with board member Shannon Rodriguez and Chairwoman Kayce Hawkins dissenting.
Hawkins said the board did not receive the proposed budget until Sept. 4, leaving little time to study a spending plan of nearly half a billion dollars. She said she understood the district was up against a deadline.
“Maybe in the future we can work a little quicker,” she said. “I think that all of us are trying to piece together this budget and would have enjoyed a little bit more time to really go through it.”
Chief Financial Officer Joyce McIntyre said the budget had to be transmitted to the state by Friday, Sept. 11.
Rodriguez asked why the item reached the agenda so late. McIntyre cited problems downloading files and “a lot of mechanical issues,” and Superintendent Ray Pinder noted the Labor Day holiday fell in the middle of the preparation window.
Nothing about the timing was intentional, McIntyre said.
“We would have liked to have given it to you sooner,” she said.
Rodriguez said the district is still in contract bargaining and that too much remains unsettled.
“It would be wise to postpone until we had more clarity about costs for health care,” she said.
Her vote was not a knock on the finance staff, she said; she appreciates their work. It was the numbers themselves, particularly salaries and health insurance.
“I’m just not completely comfortable with the position that we’re put in,” Rodriguez said.
Later, during the board’s regular meeting, Rodriguez returned to the point, saying she understands what employees face with rising insurance rates and a raise that will largely be consumed by higher premiums.
Funding
The final 2026-27 budget, including all funds, other financing sources and transfers, totals $495.21 million, a $16.29 million decrease from the final 2025-26 budget.
The general fund accounts for $268.74 million of that, according to the district. Of that amount, $234.26 million goes directly to schools and $12.69 million to district departments that support students indirectly. The remaining $21.78 million is set aside for fund balance and transfers.
The debt service budget is $10.56 million, a decrease of $795 from the previous fiscal year.
The capital projects budget is $162.09 million, with projected revenues down $3.86 million. Unspent purchase orders were closed at the end of the fiscal year and reopened in 2026-27, with a $23.03 million carryforward balance assigned to them.
The food service budget is $32.25 million, up $1.36 million from the final 2025-26 budget.
The special revenue budget is $21.53 million and includes new federal entitlement grants along with 2025-26 grant money carried into the new fiscal year.
Millage steady
The total millage of 6.265 is unchanged from last year, and property owners will not see an increase in school taxes, according to district figures.
The county’s tax roll rose to about $21.762 billion from almost $20.9 billion, an increase of a little more than $862 million. That pushed the value of a single mill – calculated at a 96% collection rate – up more than $827,000, to nearly $20.9 million.
The rate includes a required local effort of 3.009 mills, a prior-period local effort adjustment of 0.008, discretionary millage of 0.748, capital outlay of 1.500 and voted millage of 1.000.
Total tax revenue comes to almost $131 million, about $5.18 million more than last year.
The owner of a $300,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption will pay $1,722.88 in school taxes, the same as last year.
The millage and budget presentations are posted at hernandoschools.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx under the agenda packet for the final public budget hearing.
Board meeting
The board held its regular meeting after the budget hearing.
Students from Challenger K-8 led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Principal Rosemarie Maiorini, joined by a student, presented on the school’s accomplishments. Pinder recognized several Challenger staff members for longevity of service.
The board also introduced a monthly agenda item recognizing school district community partners. The first honorees were the Challenger K-8 PTO, Family Chiropractic and an employee group from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
In closing comments, board member Susan Duval said Suncoast Credit Union has donated $215,000 to the Hernando County Education Foundation.
Field trips
On a short consent agenda of routine items, the board approved four overnight trips:
The F.W. Springstead High School chorus will travel to DeLand for the Stetson University Choral Festival, Oct. 1-3.
Central High School’s Beta Club will send seven students and teachers Kim Worden and Zachary Leonard to Panama City for the Beta Club Regional Leadership Summit, Sept. 22-24.
Hernando High School students will attend the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Oct. 20-24.
Central High School’s volleyball team will play in the Florida Gem Volleyball Tournament in Wesley Chapel, Sept. 17-19.