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Operational Millage Referendum

Osceola School District’s Operational Millage Referendum

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What's on the ballot?

On November 3, 2026, Osceola County voters will decide whether to approve an operational millage for:

  • Competitive compensation and benefits to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff;
  • Maintain safety and security personnel in our schools; and
  • Preserve academic programs, arts, music, athletics, and student activities.

Where does the Osceola School District rank in regards to funding, as compared to other districts?

    • Osceola is the 66th lowest funded district in the state of Florida out of 67 counties. This lack of funding is impairing our ability to competitively recruit teachers and staff.

    • 80% of the operational budget for the Osceola School District is earmarked for employee salaries and benefits.

    • Osceola is ranked 66th out of 67 school district for the percentage of funding spent on administrative expenses. This means a higher percentage of our funding is spent directly on teachers and students compared to other districts.

    • Osceola School District’s current funding allocation provides $8,900/student. In the last seven years, that has increased by an average of $196/student per year. With the millage, the district anticipates an additional $950/student.

    • Osceola has the fourth lowest average teacher salary in Central Florida:
      • Indian River: $62,933
      • Sumter: $61,395
      • Orange: $60,030
      • Hillsborough: $59,117
      • Seminole: $57,412
      • Marion: $57,012
      • Manatee: $56,224
      • Highlands: $54,740
      • Lake: $53,849
      • Osceola: $52,840
      • Polk: $52,757
      • Volusia: $52,168
      • Pasco: $51,371
      • Brevard: $54,582

Where does the Osceola School District see the funding gap?

    • State funding is not keeping up with inflation, which means this millage will help bridge the gap.

    • The Osceola School District anticipates a $100M+ budget shortfall over the next four years.
    • Programs and staffing that are already underfunded include employee compensation, healthcare benefits, maintaining school resource officers, academic, arts, music, athletics, and other student activities.
    • Enrollment has decreased by over 1,450 students in the past four years, resulting in a $13M reduction in funding.

    • State funding increases per student have been consistently below the cost of living, inflation, and healthcare cost increases in recent years.

What is an operational millage?

 

An operational millage is a voter-approved property tax that:

  • Supports day-to-day school operations, not buildings or capital projects;
  • Helps address local education priorities; and
  • Is time-limited and must be renewed by voters every four years.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

Example: $200,000 taxable home value would be $200 per year ($16.67 per month)

*Amounts vary based on taxable value

  • This referendum would support:

    • The recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers and staff with competitive compensation and benefits;
    • Maintain safety and security personnel on campuses; and
    • Funds allocated to a wide range of programs, include academic programs, arts, music, athletics, and student activities – maintaining a full-student experience of Osceola students.

    • Osceola County students will have continued access to vital safety and security measures, as well as academic, arts, music, athletics programs and activities.
    • Osceola County teachers and staff will receive competitive compensation and benefits that will help attract and retain talent.
    • Our community as strong schools lead to better workforce readiness and economic development in Osceola County.

  • If approved, the millage would be in effect for four years beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.

    • Funds would be shared proportionately between traditional public and charter schools based on their student population.
    • Spending would be monitored by an independent citizen advisory committee.

    • “To provide for essential operating expenses, including competitive compensation and benefits to recruit and retain high-quality teachers and staff, maintain safety and security personnel, preserve academic programs, arts, music, athletics and student activities, shall the School District of Osceola County levy an ad valorem tax of one mill for four years, to be shared proportionately between public and charter schools, with oversight by an independent citizen advisory committee?”

  • The Osceola School District will most likely face further budget cuts negatively impacting students and staff. Other districts have shown that, without these additional voter-approved funds, district often must reduce staff and/or student services.

  • Click here to find voting and polling location information from the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Office.