Flagler Schools Approves Budget, Millage Rate

The Flagler School Board on Tuesday voted to approve the millage rate and budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. Three members unanimously voted to approve, with one member absent and another seat vacant since October 2025. Flagler Schools’ budget was set at $353,097,566. The confirmation vote was formed by Chair Christy Chong along with Board members Lauren Ramirez and Janie Ruddy. Vice Chair Will Furry was not in attendance. With only three members present, all three had to be in agreement in order to pass any vote they took. After the final vote was taken, the FY 2026-27 total millage rate was set to 5.312. This amounts to $5.312 in taxes assessed per $1,000 in taxable property value. The Florida state government lowered the required local effort (RLE) millage rate this year, a move which counter-balances rising property values. The discretionary millage rate of 1.500 and local capital improvement millage rate of 0.748 both remained the same as last year. According to data presented to the School Board, the projected revenue for the Flagler Schools general fund is $167,063,346. This sits 3.66% higher than the projected expenditure estimate of $161,058,715. The total difference between the two figures is $6,004,631. For the upcoming school year, 2,473 students are utilizing Florida’s family empowerment scholarships – a school choice program approved by the legislature in March 2023. This is the most students who have enrolled in school choice since income eligibility requirements were removed, amounting to an estimated $17,329,690 in impact to Flagler Schools.