Sarasota board hears 2026 legislative roundup as state budget and tax package spare school districts

Miss Megan Fay of Capitol City Consulting told the Sarasota County School Board on June 2 that the Florida Legislature completed a state budget and voted a tax package that, as drafted in the special session, does not include school districts in the proposed homestead-exemption changes.

“The governor has the budget currently in his possession and he is reviewing that budget,” Fay said, adding that the property‑tax special session was being used as leverage during budget negotiations. She noted one key local win: “spoiler alert, as of last night, it does not” include school districts in the property‑tax proposal.

Fay reviewed K–12 budget highlights the board will need to implement: a statewide increase in the base student allocation (an $85 rise in the BSA) and a roughly $200 million statewide categorical for teacher salaries, targeted in part to educators with 10 or more years’ service. She also explained a $79 million statewide declining‑enrollment supplement intended to cushion districts; Fay estimated Sarasota’s share would be about $638,000.

Superintendent Mr. Connor and board members pressed staff on operational impacts, including whether new or renewed teacher salary allocations will require separate bargaining and how the district should plan if state grant language or line‑item provisos restrict use. Board member Mr. Edwards asked whether the district’s multi‑year financial planning should presume further policy change; Fay said the Legislature and Department of Education are already talking about payment timing and other implementation changes.

The briefing closed with praise for local advocacy. Fay credited Sarasota and Manatee delegation members for securing language in House Bill 7031 that, she said, “makes it very specific” that tax collectors shall pay commissions on voted school millage and removes authority for counties to block school‑district referendums from the ballot. The board asked staff to track final governor actions and report any implementation steps required before July 1.