The School Board of Lee County has officially approved its operating and capital budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), adopting a total spending plan of $3,055,366,436.
The FY27 budget reflects an 11.41% overall decrease ($393,578,615) compared to FY26 expenditures and ending fund balances ($3,448,945,051), driven by conservative revenue forecasting, efficient administrative reorganization, and aligning school funding with actual enrollment.
Key Highlights of the FY27 Spending Plan:
- Total Approved Budget: $3,055,366,436 across all operating, capital, debt service, special revenue, and internal service funds.
- Millage Rate Drop: The Board's approved FY27 budget lowers the total millage rate to 5.271 mills, down from 5.319 mills in FY26. That's a steep decline from 7.416 mills in 2015, a 28.9% reduction (2.145 mills) that now saves homeowners $214.50 per $100,000 of taxable value compared to a decade ago.
- Protection of Financial Reserves: Fully maintains mandated operating reserve policies while setting aside $30,600,000 in Reserve for Contingencies and $7,027,597 in Reserve for FTE Shortfall/Proration to protect against enrollment fluctuations.
- Capital Outlay & Infrastructure: All capital expenditures remain strictly aligned with the updated 5-Year Capital Outlay Plan to ensure long-term facility needs are met.
"This budget is proof of our disciplined stewardship of every taxpayer dollar in Lee County,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin. “We've aligned funding with enrollment, kept a tight rein on Central Office spending, and lowered the millage rate for the eighth time in nine years. Our priority is simple: every dollar serves our students and the achievement they deserve. That's the standard we hold ourselves to, and it's one our families can count on.”