Pasco County homeowners will be paying higher taxes under the school district’s 2023-2024 proposed budget.
The budget includes a 1 mill increase approved by voters to support higher pay for the district’s non-administrative personnel. One mill equals S1 per S1.000 of assessed value.
Kurt Browning, the district’s superintendent detailed some of the $1.9 billion budget’s highlights at the school board’s July 25 meeting.
It was the board’s first public hearing on the budget, and no public comment was offered.
The second public hearing is set for Sept. 11 at 6 p.m., at the board’s meeting room at district’s headquarters, at 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
The district’s $1.9 billion represents an increase of $178.2 million over last year’s budget.
The total tax millage proposed for 2023-2024 fiscal year is 6.449 mils, that’s an increase of .933 mills, according to budget materials included in the school board’s July 25 agenda packet.
The district’s general operating budget is approximately $996 million.
The capital budget is $529 million — a reduction of $5.5 million, representing a 1% decrease.
Total tax millage for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is 6.449 mils — that’s an increase of .933 mills.
Under the proposed budget, the homeowner of a $350,000 house — assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption — would pay $2,096 in taxes, which is a $303 increase.
Approximately $53 million is expected to be generated from the voter-approved millage The pay raise generated from the additional millage will be divided among eligible employee groups, according to a summary of the district’s budget. The additional millage is expected to generate $52,672,826, according to district figures.
The budget summary includes this breakdown for distributing the additional funds for salaries:
- An estimated $28,860,000 will go for instructional personnel pay increases
- An estimated $10,410,000 will go for school-related personnel increases
- An estimated $3,730,000 will go for non-instructional non-bargaining pay increases
- An estimated $880,000 will go for professional-technical employee pay increases
The district’s increased operating expenses include the opening of Angeline Academy of Innovation, a magnet school in the emerging community of Angeline, where Moffitt Cancer Center is planning a sizable Pasco County campus.
Angeline Academy of Innovation ultimately will be for sixth- through 12th-graders, but is opening this year as a school for sixth- through 10th-graders.
The district also transitioned Mittye P. Locke Elementary, in Elfers, to Mittye P. Locke Early Learning Academy. The new center will provide a voluntary prekindergarten program (VPK) for early learners.
The district also will need additional staff to serve increased enrollment, and must spend more on retirement, health care, school resource officer contracts and increased costs for utilities, software licenses, charter school allocations and other needs.
On the capital side of the budget, the district is pursuing a number of projects.
Those include major renovations of West Zephyrhills Elementary School at Starkey Ranch K-8. It also includes construction of Kirkland Ranch K-8, Gulf High School, and the Angeline Athletic complex.
Additional projects include a classroom wing at Pasco High School, a new southwest Land O’ Lakes K-8 school, cafeteria renovations, replacement of HVAC systems, and infrastructure upgrades at various schools.
Pasco Schools Budget
The total budget for all funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is $1,984,819,738. This is an increase of $178,207,508 or 9.9%
- The General Fund operating budget is approximately $996.2 million, a 17.2% increase over 2022-2023
- The Capital Projects budget is approximately $529.1 million, a decrease of 1% over 2022-2023
Tax bills
Under the school board’s proposed millage rate, the owner of a $350,000 house, assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $2,095.93. That’s a $303.23 increase over 2022-2023.
Voter-approved pay increases
The voter-approved millage increase is expected to yield $52,672,826 to pay supplemental salary increases for Pasco County Schools’ non-administrative employees.
Published August 02, 2023
