Marion County School Board approves tentative 2025-26 budget for advertisement, schedules public hearing
July 23, 2025 | Marion, School Districts, Florida
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MARION COUNTY, Fla. — The Marion County School Board voted 4-0 on July 22 to receive the tentative fiscal year 2025-26 budget for advertising only and to set a public hearing for Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom.
Board members approved the motion after a staff presentation and discussion about cuts made earlier this spring, updated revenue from the state conference report and the district’s fund balance. Dr. Danielle Brewer, interim superintendent, and staff summarized the changes that brought the budget into balance without immediate layoffs.
The tentative budget presented to the board totals about $1.3 billion and includes a roughly $420 million fund-balance carryover, officials said. Staff told the board they initially found projected expenditures exceeded estimated revenue by about $64,000,000; department and operating reductions, salary-and-benefit cuts and an adjustment to committed fund balance reduced spending to match revenues.
Ms. Boston Ellis, a district staff member who led the presentation, said the budget team trimmed salary and benefits “to the tune of $25,900,000,” reduced department budgets by $8,800,000, cut operational costs by $4,800,000 and reduced the committed fund balance by $7,500,000 (a 50% reduction of that component). She said the combined reductions and updated revenue estimates resulted in roughly $46,900,000 in expenditure reductions and, with higher-than-expected conference revenue and fund-balance adjustments, the budget is balanced overall.
“The tentative budget is before you with a request to approve for advertising only, and this is based on the TRIM Truth and Millage procedures,” Ms. Boston Ellis said during the presentation.
Board members pressed staff on several points. Dr. Allison Campbell, who moved the motion, asked whether the district had more revenue than originally estimated; staff responded that the state conference report showed higher projected revenue (in part due to about 1,800 additional unweighted FTEs, staff said) than the district’s earlier estimate. Ms. Boston Ellis said about 1,200 of that increase is expected to come from Family Empowerment Scholarships and about 700 from other sources within Marion County Public Schools.
Board members noted the district’s general-fund operating balance is “a little bit over 5%,” which staff said includes the $7.5 million committed-fund-balance reduction. Members also discussed that the overall budget is smaller than last year by roughly $50,000,000, primarily because one-time ESSER federal funds used in prior years are no longer available.
Board member Lori Conrad and others praised staff for producing a balanced tentative budget under difficult conditions. Conrad and other members noted property values in the county rose about 10.9% year over year, affecting local revenue and required local effort calculations, and that the board’s previous decision to set aside reserve funds helped avoid cutting filled positions.
After discussion the board voted to receive the tentative budget, approve it for advertising only, and schedule the public hearing on July 29 at 5:30 p.m. The motion was moved by Dr. Allison Campbell and seconded by Nancy Thrower; the recorded tally on the motion was 4-0 in favor (the transcript records the tally but does not list individual vote names for each yes vote).
The district will post the proposed tentative budget on the Marion County School District website; staff announced the posting would be available the morning of Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The board’s action at this meeting was to advertise and set the hearing; final adoption of the budget will occur after the public hearing and any subsequent board action.
Votes at a glance: motion to receive the tentative budget, approve for advertising only, and set a public hearing on July 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. — Mover: Dr. Allison Campbell; Second: Nancy Thrower; Vote: 4-0; Outcome: approved.
The board meeting was called to order at 11:31 a.m. and adjourned at 11:58 a.m.
Board members approved the motion after a staff presentation and discussion about cuts made earlier this spring, updated revenue from the state conference report and the district’s fund balance. Dr. Danielle Brewer, interim superintendent, and staff summarized the changes that brought the budget into balance without immediate layoffs.
The tentative budget presented to the board totals about $1.3 billion and includes a roughly $420 million fund-balance carryover, officials said. Staff told the board they initially found projected expenditures exceeded estimated revenue by about $64,000,000; department and operating reductions, salary-and-benefit cuts and an adjustment to committed fund balance reduced spending to match revenues.
Ms. Boston Ellis, a district staff member who led the presentation, said the budget team trimmed salary and benefits “to the tune of $25,900,000,” reduced department budgets by $8,800,000, cut operational costs by $4,800,000 and reduced the committed fund balance by $7,500,000 (a 50% reduction of that component). She said the combined reductions and updated revenue estimates resulted in roughly $46,900,000 in expenditure reductions and, with higher-than-expected conference revenue and fund-balance adjustments, the budget is balanced overall.
“The tentative budget is before you with a request to approve for advertising only, and this is based on the TRIM Truth and Millage procedures,” Ms. Boston Ellis said during the presentation.
Board members pressed staff on several points. Dr. Allison Campbell, who moved the motion, asked whether the district had more revenue than originally estimated; staff responded that the state conference report showed higher projected revenue (in part due to about 1,800 additional unweighted FTEs, staff said) than the district’s earlier estimate. Ms. Boston Ellis said about 1,200 of that increase is expected to come from Family Empowerment Scholarships and about 700 from other sources within Marion County Public Schools.
Board members noted the district’s general-fund operating balance is “a little bit over 5%,” which staff said includes the $7.5 million committed-fund-balance reduction. Members also discussed that the overall budget is smaller than last year by roughly $50,000,000, primarily because one-time ESSER federal funds used in prior years are no longer available.
Board member Lori Conrad and others praised staff for producing a balanced tentative budget under difficult conditions. Conrad and other members noted property values in the county rose about 10.9% year over year, affecting local revenue and required local effort calculations, and that the board’s previous decision to set aside reserve funds helped avoid cutting filled positions.
After discussion the board voted to receive the tentative budget, approve it for advertising only, and schedule the public hearing on July 29 at 5:30 p.m. The motion was moved by Dr. Allison Campbell and seconded by Nancy Thrower; the recorded tally on the motion was 4-0 in favor (the transcript records the tally but does not list individual vote names for each yes vote).
The district will post the proposed tentative budget on the Marion County School District website; staff announced the posting would be available the morning of Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The board’s action at this meeting was to advertise and set the hearing; final adoption of the budget will occur after the public hearing and any subsequent board action.
Votes at a glance: motion to receive the tentative budget, approve for advertising only, and set a public hearing on July 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. — Mover: Dr. Allison Campbell; Second: Nancy Thrower; Vote: 4-0; Outcome: approved.
The board meeting was called to order at 11:31 a.m. and adjourned at 11:58 a.m.
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