Osceola County Voters Approve First-Ever School Operational Millage
Osceola County voters approved a property tax measure to generate $62.5 million for teacher salaries, school safety, and extracurricular programs.
Voters in Osceola County approved the district's first-ever operational millage with 64% support. The 1-mill property tax adds $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value and is expected to generate $62.5 million over the next four years.
The Osceola County School Board sought the funding to address a projected $100 million shortfall and follow $20 million in previous budget cuts. The new revenue will prioritize teacher salaries, extracurricular programs, and school resource officers. The need for dedicated security funding is acute because the simultaneous passage of Florida's Amendment 3 removes previous municipal funding for those positions.
While the levy increases costs for homeowners, the passage of Amendment 3 also increases homestead exemptions. District officials noted that for an average home valued at $360,000, these exemptions may result in overall tax savings by 2028 despite the new school tax. To ensure transparency, the district will establish an independent citizen advisory committee to monitor how the funds are spent.
