001the uh special board meeting for our first PL public hearing on the budget uh to order and uh we will um have a roll call to start. So, Mr. Attorney, would you call the role? >> Yes, ma'am. District one. Yes, sir. District one >> here. >> District two >> here. >> District three >> here. >> District four >> here. >> District five >> here. All right. Now, uh, we will move to the superintendent statement and Dr. Cerny, you're recognized. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. In accordance with section 2000. 065 and chapters 1010 and 1011 of the Florida statutes, I'm submitting the tenative balance budget for fiscal year 2025, 2026. And I'm recommending the proposed millage to be levied. On July 24th, 2025, you approved the tenative budget and millid for advertising. The purpose of
002today's public hearing is to approve the 2025 2026 proposed tenative budget and proposed millage rate and to set the date, time, and place of the final public hearing on our budget. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Uh we're going to move to item B, um the tenative budget public hearing. And um I'm going to call our CFO, Mr. Odum, up and he can uh go through items one, two, and three, one, and two before we have public comments. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Jonathan Odum, and I am the chief financial officer of Putnham County School District. Okay, should be good. So for those attending I have prepared a presentation um where we will discuss basically the documents that were on board docs today um as
003well as provided to the board last week and in the meeting last week. Okay. So this is the rolled back rate. The roll back rate is a millage that it would take to bring into the district the same amount of tax revenue as we received last year excluding the effects of any new construction. Our rolled back millage rate is 5.3291 which you can see in the left uh bold column. The proposed millage rate ignoring debt services is 5.2890 and will generate 98.89% of the same tax revenue from 2425. This roll back rate ignores the voter approved debt millage which is reported on the DR420 debt certification form with the department of revenue and only applies to state and district millages that are certified on the DR420S with the department of revenue. The proposed millage is
004a is a decrease of 0.041 mills from the rolled back rate but our actual 2526 millillage is an increase of actual mills over last year's millage rate. Our 25 26 millage rate is 6.865 mills and last year it was 6.13 any questions on when a slide comes up feel free to let me know. So here's our millage rate comparison of last year to this year and what the increase and decrease is. Um in this discussion I will give you a little bit of information about each of the categories up there. Required local effort, prior period funding adjustment, discretionary, debt service, and capital outlay. The required local effort refers to the minimum amount of revenue that a Florida school district must raise through local property taxes to qualify for state funding. Essentially, it's a local contribution
005that when combined with state funds helps ensure a basic level of educational funding for all districts. The ROE is determined by a specific mill rate set by the state legislator and applied to the taxable value of property within each school district's borders. The RLE aims to ensure that all districts, regardless of their local property wealth, contribute a baseline level of funding to their schools. While districts must levy the RLE, the state provides additional funding to supplement local contribution and address disparities in property values across districts. Districts with higher property values will generate more revenue locally than those with lower property values and state funding is used to make funding per student stable across all districts. So that was your required local effort and that is set by the state. Next is the prior period funding
006adjustment in Florida. It primarily relates to the required local effort portion of the Florida FEFP. Any shortfall or surplus in the prior periods unrealized funds is in reconciled in the prior period adjustment millage. This year 35 of the 67 counties in the state received an adjustment. to clarify that is also set by the state and it can increase or decrease your millillage based on prior year's revenue. Next is discretionary local effort millage. It refers to an additional nonvoted property tax that school districts can levy for operating purposes beyond the rle millillage. If a district chooses not to levy some or all of the DLE, the state does not make up that funding and thus that district students would be funded funded at a lower level than districts leveling the DLE. Discretionary is part of the
007FEFP funding formula when it comes out in the calculations every district is set at 748 and every district takes a 748. It is something you can reduce, but again, if you reduce it, you are funding your kids at lesser a lesser dollar value than your neighboring counties. Next up is a debt service mill. It is a specific mill that is levied to generate the funds necessary to make payments on debt, typically incurred through the issuance of bonds. Before a school district can levy a debt service millage, it must be authorized by a vote of the electors in the district as mandated by section 12, article 7 of the Florida Constitution. This is what the Putnham County taxpayers voted in approval for in November of 2022. Finally, we have the capital outlay mill. It is the
008capital allay millillage is for public schools in Florida is a portion of the property tax collected by the district to be used to fund projects such as the ones in the notice of the tax for school capital outlay that was advertised in the Saturday paper. Um the 1.5 mills this year again is the third year of our special facilities funding. This is a millage that we also um have the ability to reduce, but if you do, you're taking away from your capital uh funding that to um I mean it does everything from maintaining infrastructure to school buses, all all of that sort. So, with us being in a 30-year special facilities fundings, this is not a year we would look at actually reducing that millillage for 2025 2026. The increase of actual millage comes from
009a combination of reduction in the required local effort, an increase in the prior period adjustment and an increase in debt service millage due to the second issuance of bonds. The RO rate and the prior period adjustment are both set by the state and we have to levy them in order to receive our FFP funds of just over 60 million. The debt service rate is set by what we need to receive in order to pay the the voted debt obligation. Each school board participating in the state allocation of funds through the Florida Education Finance Program for the current operation of schools must levy the millillage set for its required local effort from property taxes. Each district's share of the state local required local effort is determined by a statutory procedure that is initiated by certification of
010the property tax evaluations of each district by the department of revenue. The only way to levy more than the amount we are leving for levying for operating or capital purposes is to go before the public in a general election asking to increase our millage rate or have debt service for bonds. The total 6.865 mills this year will bring in 98.89% of the funds generated from from last year. >> Will you repeat that >> question? I'm just >> she asked me to repeat it. >> The total 6.865 mills this year will bring in 98.89% of the funds generated from last year. So a uh is that the right page? Yeah. Um we go back to our example of a home $100,000 home after property after the homestead exemption. A home of that amount would see it
011an increase in the taxes this year of $73.50 per 100,000. Any questions on this slide? This slide is one we showed you in the budget workshop. We typically don't show it in this one. The reason I wanted to incorporate it is because of the prior period adjustment. So, I created a new column on the top section for prior period adjustment to show that uh over the last nine years, we've only had it twice. Um, and on the charts, you likely can't see it, but above two of those charts, there is a very small red line because the prior period adjustments are so minimal. Um, they're never like a large category amount. So, our entire millage rate is made up of the required local rate that is set by the legislature. the discretionary that the district
012can decide to use for operations or for capital but that is also set by the legislature. The capital amount that is levied by the board and that is currently at a max of 1.5 mills and then debt that is levied by the board for voted debt issuance. The required local effort has been steadily decreasing since 201223 from a high of 5.272 and is now down to 3.023 a decrease of10 from fiscal year 2425. Due to the issuance of the second $100 million in bonds, our debt millage this year will increase to 1.576, bringing us to a total of 6.865, an increase of the 735 mills. If this rate stands for the taxpayer with a home value of 125 with the 25 125,000 with the $25,000 homestead exemption, it will cost 43 cent per day 1313
013per month or $157.60 60 cent per year. >> Any questions? >> The I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> The the last example you just gave was on a on a house for how much? >> So, it's the $100,000 house. So, for a $100,000 house, um it is $157.60 per year in total millage. That's after the um homestead exemption, >> correct? >> 125 is what he started off with with a $25,000 homestead. >> He's talking about 100,000. >> Yeah, the $100,000 examples are after the homestead exemption has been applied. >> So, this is uh going over the same um kind of the same information. This is a a chart that came out when we first started looking at bonds and how much all of our millages will affect. Um the green section in the bottom is commercial
014and industrial properties. Um we start from $50,000 a $50,000 home with a $25,000 exemption all the way up to $400,000 and then we go into the commercial and industrial. The first column will show the total property values. Second column showing it with a homestead exemption. Third column shows last year's millage rate. Fourth column shows this year's millage rate. The fifth column shows last year's taxes. And the sixth column showing this year's taxes with the last column showing the difference between the two. Any questions on this one? Oh, and highlighted in blue there is the example for the $125,000 home with a $25,000 exemption. a similar chart. This one is strictly bonds. So, I just gave you these dollar amounts a few seconds ago, but this slide reflects the total yearly cost for the voted $300
015million bond taxes on a house ranging from the same 50,000 all the way down to 400,000 and the same commercial and industrial properties. The first column shows the total property value with the second column showing the homestead exemption applied. The third column shows the millage rate and the fourth column shows the bond tax total with the the next column showing the monthly bond tax and the last column showing the daily bond tax. So in our example that's where it shows the daily bond tax is 43 cent 1313 or 15760 per year. Any questions on that one? So, this is the budget summary document. Um, it was a little big for this, so I let it take up the whole screen. Um, from this, uh, you'll see it's in the package and it's a presentation of
016the same document you've already received. Um, and it was posted in Saturday's paper. I emailed you a report as well of various segments of the general fund budget per request prior to the meeting to advertise. Um at any time you can request additional information or printouts for any school or department and I can email it to you. Uh we did went over this document at the meeting to advertise. It hasn't changed since. Um and I have also prepared explanations for each general uh or each fund up there that I also provided to all of you. Um, so that being said, uh, is there any other questions since last week in regards to this document? >> Do you have listed in here, Jonathan, or are you going to talk about it and show it later? The
017the uh the cost of the uh opportunity scholarships, >> the fees scholarships. So, um, I had it somewhere in my notes. Um, I don't know exactly where. Um, but I can say the FES scholarships uh increased to 6.7 million last year. And what we've been doing to best project for it is increasing our budgeted amount to what we got hit the prior year and then budgeting a little bit more for shortfall. We continue the same practice this year. So, I set $6.7 million aside for projected FS scholarships because that number is projected to go up. Um, and we also set last year we had an increase from the projected to the final of approximately 1.1 million. So we also set 1.1 million in additional funding aside for that. >> And and to be clear for
018you know um everyone uh that's the money that the legislature has designated for anybody that wants to go to a private or home school or anything else. >> Yeah. any school that is not ours. >> So that 6.9 million it comes out of out of our budget. It's not money the legislature sends separately. So that is a significant hit um for us. >> So to so our increase you said 1.1 million so that makes it 7. >> So last year uh so we finished last year at 6.7 million but had a 1.1 million increase. So last year there was a $5.6 million budget for it and we finished the year at 6.6 7. So this year we budgeted 6.7 plus an identical increase to plan for it. So this year we have 8.8 million set
019aside specifically for this scholarship, these scholarships. >> I can remember and and Rhonda's in the audience. I remember when Rhonda used to set some aside when it first started and it would double >> and then after a while it just, >> you know, took off. So >> well the the big problem with it for now and this is the finance meetings I go to it's obviously statewide but um every year when you project that 1.1 million on addition of what you get it's probably going to come in at 1.4 1.5 every year it's hitting it and more. >> So we've never done a drastic set aside enough uh to cover it. Um but because of our reserves we do set aside for audit shortfalls and everything, we have been able to cover what we've had.
020>> Any questions? Yes, ma'am. >> Yes. So, um where is that 8.8 million? >> So, you will not see it specifically out by itself on here because um >> but it's within >> it's within the first not the first the second column that says general fund. It is within those numbers. Okay, >> Jonathan, another somebody else got a question. >> Go ahead. >> Um, >> isn't there a part of the millillage levy that we have to are required to to levy to to obtain a special facilities funding to rebuild Interlockan High School or is there a part of that? >> Are you talking about the payback? >> Well, well, we did we've already got Crescent City, but we to start on the next high school. So, in order currently by state legislation to start on
021another special facility schools, we have to completely pay our payback on the Cresant City School, which we won't officially know even though the three years millage is passed and we have a set number. The state's not going to try to get that from us till the school's done. So, once the school's done, >> I got you. >> We will pay We have to pay it off first. >> There was something tied there, but I Okay. >> Um, if just your >> Yes, sir. real quick just in regards to to the monies that we've set aside for the scholarship uh with the programs we have in place >> uh the new program uh flex Putinham flex uh preferably and and pulling our children back from the home schools. this will kind of sort of help us
022out as far as >> the the shortfall. >> And if I can say this and and Jonathan can speak to it too, Jonathan Hanky's in here and actually and I I think he might have shared this already, didn't you, Jonathan? where we actually are we have a price structure in where we can actually uh obtain some of that funding back if some of these students uh want to come back and take a class or classes we can actually charge for those classes but we we are actually a vendor now so >> and that >> right the put flex is um you know is also part of that >> he he did share that with us this morning and that is actually out on our website right now >> okay >> thank you >> and um
023I'll go ahead and make an editorial comment here. Um, you know, it was pointed out by my friend Rocky Hannah and he's a superintendent in Leyon County um this week in a in a podcast that with one of the reporters in Tallahassee that the state can't continue funding the legislature to parallel education programs. That just won't work. We don't have the money. They're not going to allocate the money for it. And so subsequently, you know, we're we're losing money that we otherwise would be able to put into our budget and reduce the millage um because we could take that money then and even reduce the debt service on the bonds. Um but it's not available and and it's going to get tighter as that parallel track continues to to move forward. Anyway, thank you. Any
024other any comments from >> All right. what you're talking about, Phil, is just going to it's going to continue because it's the it's the narrative and the talking point really nationwide about >> whether it's whether it's woke or whether it's not woke or or whether it's they're not getting the job done, grades aren't here, the grades aren't there, and some schools don't get graded. You know, it it it depends on who's talking about it and what they're saying. You got a governor who I'd love to death saying, you know, things like we're going to do away with property taxes. we're going to do away with income taxes. We're going you can say whatever you want to say when you're not up for re-election and not worry about it. But it's very difficult when you got
025to you got to worry about feeding kids and you got to worry about keeping your kids alive on school buses and the highways and things like that. It's a it's a tough job for our teachers and principles. >> All right, John, if you please proceed. >> All right, so I know I know I spoke with four of you in the last couple days. Uh you each had your own questions and concerns. Um, but in those conversations, something that we didn't really discuss that I wanted to point out and I didn't get the chance to put in my notes yet, and I I just remembered cuz I have a separate handwritten note here. I did when we started budgeting, um, the revised budget was 66,892,1.31. We cut, that's not the requested budget, that's revised budget from
026last year. That is what they ended with. We cut all departments down to $3,783,311. And I just wanted to point that out because it it looks like a lot, but we've had to cut a lot to make this work. Um, we've and it's it's all coming from the departments, uh, when I when I speak of that dollar amount. So, >> how much was that? The rei the ending revised budget was 6,892,91.31 and we cut them down to 3,783,311 and I will actually say I ran a new report literally right before this meeting and it was uh we ended up putting 200,000 back in. So they actually at 3,983, >> budget for what? various things that I mean anything from Skyward the cost of Skyward our ERP. >> You're talking about though the scholarship program. >>
027No, no, no. The scholarship program was the 6.7 million. This 3,783,311 goes to finance for paper if we need paper for ink toner >> different departments. >> It's for all department requests um whatever it may be. >> Okay. I just I know that's not our total budget. So I didn't understand the six. >> It's essentially the department level budgets that is not including salaries and benefits. >> So anything they spend on and that's not in capital. Uh capital will come out of the capital projects line not the general fund. So today's meeting is to approve the tenative budget and millage rates that were advertised in Saturday's paper and that we've just discussed. We also discussed them last week. If you approve it tonight, I will open up the system for schools and departments to begin
028spending their budgets. Since July 1st, they've only had the opportunity to spend for emergency use. So those items like papers and pencils, we don't allow during that time period. If you want to make any changes to this budget, you still have the ability to all the way up until the September 11th 2nd public budget hearing. Um, you cannot raise the millage. That is the one caveat there. So, before we go to the roll call vote, um, are there any questions for me from any of the board members or the superintendent? Before we go to the vote, I'm gonna open it up for public comment just to uh and and if you would stay right up front there in case anybody has a question, but I'm gonna change the order a little bit here. Um and
029and then the board, I want to give the board the opportunity to comment and individually. So, our first speaker, uh Mr. David Miner, if you would come up and be recognized and give your full name and your mailing address would be great. >> David Miner. >> Oh, you need different in the county. >> David Miner, 116 Sheffy Road, Palaska, Florida. I can't see raising the millage rate and these these figures are using $100,000 house. Well, you can't go buy a $100,000 house. The other issue about raising the millage rate, 30% of the people in Putham County pay taxes. The other 70 live in such lower poverty houses that they're not going to be paying anything anyway. Okay? Whether you raise it or not, it's the people that invest in this county that take I have
030commercial properties. I see these numbers. It's going to up my prices. Okay? There's other ways to do um increase the money without sticking it to the taxpayer. And like I said, the taxpayer, unfortunately, is only 30% of us. Okay? The thing is is they uh there's got to be ways to cut the budgets and stuff like that and quit wasting it. On top of that, you can't throw good money after bad money. We've already got $300 million, I believe, a little over that for all these new schools and stuff. I've bought property. I fixed up property. I've seen where you can drop the price down and actually rebuild things and fix things. Um, I just I just can't see it going on to keep doing the taxes up higher and higher. Why don't we take
031what we got and learn to budget it better and learn? There's got to be a way to to look at it and cut it down. Otherwise, these 30% of people are going to be the one paying, not the 70% that's not paying. >> Thank you, David. >> All right. Our next uh speaker is Ronald Kase. Mr. if you'd come up and give your full name and address, please. I'm uh Ronald Case. I live at 129 Confederate Point Road in Palata. Um I one I have three or four statements and maybe a question or so, but it's total spending per student in Putin County. um in excess of $11,000. Is that number correct? >> I'm sorry. >> Per pupil expenditures in Putnham County. Jonathan >> per student. >> So the actual per pupil expenditures per student.
032I don't have the number off top of my head right now that have to be researched. But when compared to other districts, we have things like title one funding that is across our entire districts that don't apply to the entire districts elsewhere and things like that will affect that number. So, we get additional federal dollars that increases that number that St. John's County wouldn't get. >> Well, there's money that comes from the state that does have a per pupil expenditure. We don't have that on the top of the head right now, but I mean, it can be found pretty easy if we can get that for you. >> I think I maybe I saw that number online, >> but it's like you said, ours is different because we we do have we're a title one
033school district, which means we've got a a significant amount of children who live below the poverty level. Okay. Uh, part of my reasoning for being here tonight is that number that was on the very bottom of that last chart that was up there was $477 million. And I know that I'm aware of the school situation and construction and all that, especially the one on Horseman's Club Road, which is looks like it's coming along really good. Um, one complaint I have is all those sand trucks on that road have deteriorated the quality of our road. And I I see that there's a a nice uh improvement there in front of the entrance to the school. Um but I don't see anything being you know anything else being done as far as maintaining yes the quality of
034our in and out >> that that road um u Mr. was not built. The the horses club in its entirety entirety from State Road 20 to State Road 19 was not constructed to what they call the standards, the 50% lime rock bearing ratio. And we found that out when we start when our contractors started working on the ingress and egress to the school and found out they were going to have to rebuild that section. I have talked with Commissioner Pelisier and he is that's a priority for him to try to, you know, uh, fix the rest of the road. It won't have to be in at the same level of construction that we're we're doing for for the project right in front of the school, but that road was never constructed properly. And so, obviously
035that there's going to be wear and tear, but we're we're very cognizant of that. >> Okay. Um, some other online information I got was uh Putinham County I think is and I don't I don't know exactly how they worded that but is number 63 or 64 in the quality of education out of Florida's 67 counties. Now, that's online information from the education department in Florida. Uh, I've I've read those same numbers now for years. And for half a billion dollars going forward, I know it's not all all this year, but going forward somewhere along the way that number needs to improve. >> You want to address >> and also another com another bit of information is that reading and math skills are low in this county. And I, you know, if children can't read at
036an appropriate level, they can't learn, they can't they can't do they can't do math, they can't do science. Um, some things need to be need some more attention and that's that's my comment to the board for today. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you for coming. >> Um, our last speaker is Mr. Howard Blick. And if you'd come forward and give your full name and address. Thank you, Howard. My name is Howard Blik, 1705 Palma Street, Palata, Florida. And I was um read the budget in the paper. this just general comments and I hoped that I would come and learn some clarity on line items because there's some big line items that uh a lot of dollars and it doesn't really the way a budget is constructed unless you're involved directly in that budget you don't
037have a clue in the world what's covered in that budget. for instance, uh 68 million for instruction. I'm assuming that's salaries, but I don't know that. Um uh another biggie was general administration almost 39 million. And I was kind of looking for clarity on the line items. And I would uh kind of reiterate what the two predecessors have said. That's that's a concern of mine. both of those issues or all the issues they spoke to and I didn't expect to get a lot of detail on the line items but I was just curious if anything would be spoken to that. >> Thank you sir. we uh we can have your those two two questions addressed and and one of the things that I'm going to request is that our entire budget including all line items
038be posted to our website. Um most most government agencies do that so you'd have the opportunity to to look and see specifically what that is. But um anyway, Jonathan, you want to answer two questions the two about the >> schedule section which is 67 instruction >> instruction. >> So when we we look up there um I pulled it back up on screen. Um when we look up there just for an example the instruction the pupil personnel services, instructional media services, instructional curriculum development, instructional staff training and instructional related technology. All of that is to anyone in the code we call 5100 which is for instruction. Um that is salaries and benefits. That is um things they use in the classroom. Uh it can it can vary across it's kind of like a general aspect kind
039of what I was saying earlier with a department budget. It's it's not capital items. Um that is that can be textbooks that can be paper pencils. It's it's in the classroom. It's used for instruction on some kind of level. Um, and then you get down and the school board is it encompasses the budget here. Um, it encompasses y'all's salaries. Uh, I believe we have an attorney budget in there. Um, then you get into the general administration. That is your other staff here. Um, and that is not at schools. So, as far as our district, that would be that would encompass uh CEO employees of their general fund. Um our employees then um you got your school administration, which is your administration at the schools. So, it it goes down and and facilities acquisitions, that's our
040facilities and maintenance. Uh fiscal services, that's a finance department. Food services, you'll see nothing there because they are another item that is fully federally funded. Um, central. I would have to look at my page to see the breakout of what all is in that one. Um, people transportation. Um, I believe that one's self-explanatory. Operational plant, maintenance of plant, those are kind of handinand. Um, administrative technology services. I believe to give you an exact answer, I think I'd have to look that up again. And by the way, any of these you want more detail on public records request them. The information is all there. I have a sheet that actually breaks out what all of these are in better detail. So that is an option to you. Um and then you got the community service and
041debt services. Um you will not we won't we I don't know if we've ever had debt service in general fund uh because typically it's either state issued or through the issuance of a bond. And so you'll see that over there in the debt service fund. So go ahead question too. >> It's important to point out on the general administration that your internal services and your enterprise fund. So that's $37 million of that 38 million is an eBay. >> Okay. Yeah. So you're talking about the far right column. When I was going down I was looking at um the first two columns but that last column. >> Okay. Yes. Okay. So the last column that does say 38 million mill million when you look at um kind of what they were saying the internal and the
042enterprise fund columns that's not our money that's not money we do anything with that's NEC we >> work agent >> yeah we're we're their fiscal agent we work hand inand with them um we do their accounting for them that's what basically us being their fiscal agent is so we handle all of their money um but we can't go do something in our schools that they don't approve. That is not our money. >> Okay, M. Wagner. >> And if if I can just ask because you were saying going line by line here. Um, and just as an example because it's not one of the huge ones, you said the fiscal services, that's the finance department, >> correct? >> And I'm not trying to pick on you here, but that's the total there. If I'm following across
043there, is that the one? >> That's 1,326,723. >> Okay. And >> is some of that >> from internal services? >> 104,000 of it is. Yes. >> And I mean, can you you gave us some detail on some of the other stuff. So, what is that $1.3 million? >> So, I was actually looking at the finance budget earlier. and only about 200,000 is us. And um the rest of it will be items such as the reserves. Um I don't think we put the fees reserve in there, but we I'm trying to Well, you also have all the salary and benefits in there. Um, so you have salary and benefits, you have our budget, and then we also for any I'm trying to think of a good example. Um, okay. The verata thing for example, we held
044that in the finance department budget even though it was an IT item because when we started that year, we did not budget for it in the IT department. Does that make sense? So, we have other things that are sitting there that are kind of earmarked, but we didn't have it somewhere else at the time. >> Can I interrupt you, Mr. Chair? I think one of the one of our citizens in the office has a comment or question. I just want to speak because I've had quite a bit of experience finance office in the past and this current also set aside certain dollar amounts like for substitutes like for payouts things like that are set aside in the fiscal services department when there's you never know what department or what function that's going to occur in
045somebody leaves and gets paid out for their unused sick leave balance Once it's paid out, then the finance office will move the money from the fiscal services department and transfer it to the department that or the school that had the expenditure. So fiscal services because it's that department doing the budget. They know that there's going to occur. So they go ahead and set aside that they move it out and be in the appropriate function by the end of the year. >> It it it does. And I'm sorry I can't hardly talk. Um, within that general fiscal services, is it is it kind of earmarked within that budget or is it just one lump sum because it's otherwise kind of >> um it it'll be yeah, we'll have it different line items depending on where it's
046supposed to go and we'll um it is earmarked. Um some of it will be encumbered. Uh for example, we are in a verata contract where we're paying them x number of years. So that that money is earmarked. Um, but just kind of an overall as well like we have I I mentioned it before and she mentioned as well reserves for different things like that. We don't know exactly where they're going yet. Um, >> and that that makes sense to me, but you know, and I coming up on this meeting, I've had several phone calls and people uh requesting transparency and and as we've had people here, you know, this is this is a lot to try to to comprehend and and I appreciate the the call and discussion we had this week, but it it
047I guess that would at least for the board members or for anybody else that would want more of that detail because when you say fiscal services, You said that's our department. I'm like, well, how many people down there do you have if it's a $1.3 million, you know? Yeah. And it's kind of alarming to look at. >> I I would even go go as far as to say when you look at department budget, that is not the department budget for us. There is um when you pull out the cost center, it is a higher dollar amount because as she referenced, we have our sub money there. Ever since COVID, we've been spending shy of $2 million on subs. um that money is held within finance because we don't know where it's going until federal pro
048until PHS has a sub. We charge it to them. We do the transfers and everything and move it over there. So, there's a whole different aspect. The reason why this is presented this way in the paper and presented this way to all of you is because that is what the state specifies has to be done. It has to be done this way. Um there is always more detail. Um it's just we don't prepare it because during this month we're already working crazy hours that that's just extra work on top of it. We would need we would have to spend more money to bring someone else in to do additional work. Uh so the the information is available. Uh if any of you ask for it, be sure to be happy to, you know, oblige. One
049of the things that that I I've hear from fellow board members across the state is that how important it is for there to be the line by line uh expenditure in every department which is what I've been you know saying we need uh so we can look at things like you know out of state travel or you know uh vehicle expense and that kind of thing so we the board has an understanding. What I'd like to see is is that information be posted to our website between now and our next um the September meeting when we'll set the final millillage and then the board members can you know look at it and decide you know are there areas that we feel that should be cut you know in in order to as we talked in
050our meeting about trying to focus on um you know this year's tough because of the, you know, the whole situation with the property appraiser and the TPP and the uh the additional cost on the opportunity scholarships and the fact that our um revenue from our um from the millage rate and the and the increase uh to the bond debt service is going up. And um I just you know I know we can't make that that whole $8 million but you know if we can offset it any to where we could you know uh decrease the millillage I think that that's that's important and um and I know it takes a lot of time but I do think it's important that you know for transparency and I've getting the same calls that Miss Wagner's getting that
051you know well this is just a general and you know one of the things I do think it's important to point out is that the the operational and general fund budget for us is what 126 million of that 477. Most of that money that those 300 million of that is is um construction uh bonds and that type of thing. Am I is that correct? >> Yeah. So you're referencing right in the middle of the page under the S at the top capital projects. If you go all the way down, >> there's 237,999,85.76. Um that is funds left from two issuances of $100 million bond and funds um from the $95 million special facility construction as well as district funds. And so our total operating slashgeneral fund is what's the total how many what >> the
052over on the general fund side we're looking at one 126 million63,000. >> Okay. So just so we're clear on that that you know we're not spending $477 million on operating the schools in the school system. It's that's that's the cost of the bonds and building the new school. >> And I will throw another little wrench in there. the internal services and enterprise funds. Those two total up to over 71 million 72 million dollars and so that is another 72 million that is not our money. >> Okay. Mold uh our chair referenced our September 11th meeting to possibly have this done. Is that doable? Um, we would have to move fast with some things. I know >> Dr. Cerny has had me in conversations with a company before, but we weren't going to meet till meet
053again till like I think >> mid to late September, but we've we talked about um putting a graphic out there, working with a company to put a graphic out there for uh bond funds. Um we would have to see the cost difference to do more than just bond funds. Um, and actually we haven't got to the stage of the cost for just the bond funds, but we've had conversations about putting a graphic out there to be more transparent with the bond funds already. Um, we are not in an agreement with a company right now for anything like that. So, we would have to have that process go in. I'm not sure how many board meetings we have between now and then. Um, but it would all have to come get approved depending on the dollar
054amount and uh then go from there. And then as well um it also depends on the company's lead time. Um how long will it take them to get that information up? Just to give a reference, the last company I sent a downloaded Skyward file took more than six weeks to get information out of it because our Skyward file is so large um that they they have to take everything. And then even when they got their information on their portal, we had to go through and tell them what this line item means because they didn't have names for everything. So, um, if it's feasible before September 11th, I don't know. Um, it really depend on how quickly a a company can work to do that. >> Well, to me, I'm sorry, you finished going. I was
055just going to say just most especially just the areas that were referenced here like you broke it down as to where the money's going. This is portion this number you're seeing is knee pad over here you're seeing this I mean just that part so that at least that would be something showing a start that we are uh >> yeah I'm not I'm not talking about the whole budget I'm talking about our operational the 126 million you know each department and and to me we're doing this backwards I mean you you allocate so much money for each department well those departments should have already been submitted budgets back in May and June of what they are projecting for their cost and and what they would request and >> they they get them submitted to us. This
056year their deadline was 620. >> Okay. So you've taken that that the budgets that each department has submitted to you, you know, in a line item format and then you've said we're we're cutting $3 million out of each department. Is that correct? Is that what I heard you say? So, uh, we typically or the two years that I've I've had a part in it, um, we do not or I have not gotten down into line item detail. Um, if we were to do that, it would be kind of the same thing I said earlier, the the length of time and the man we would need more manpower to do that. Um, because of our deadline, because of the trim deadline, we we our trim date starts July 1st and we have to have it done
057by July 24th. That we are on a strict timeline. So, if we're gonna get something where we're doing that line item detail, we need more help. Um, it can't not saying it can't be done. It can be done. If if if we have the hands doing it, it could be done. But again, you're putting more money into it when we're also trying to figure out how to save money in the same way, which if you can save more, I I completely understand that. But um just for an example, this one page alone has probably 20 line items and this packet is probably half the district. And so if if there were 20 line items on every page and then you double it and then you go back x number of years because they want the
058entire data. Um, it it's a rather large file. Even when we're just talking general fund, >> I think we're we're we're on different tracks. Either I'm not understanding you or you're not understanding me. >> Every government agency I've worked for, local, state, and federal. >> The departments within that agency submit a budget >> request or in May, end of May, 1st of June >> to the finance CFO. They then you build your budget, the total budget off of that. >> What I'm saying is there's line items for how many departments do we have? >> All >> seven, eight. >> Oh, we have more than that. >> However you want to break it down. >> Yeah. So each of those departments, you know, what I'm saying is we as a board and the public for full
059transparency should be able to see that line item at le, you know, on what we're proposing, you know, prior to us adopting the the tenative millage and certainly prior to us in, you know, adopting the final millage because there are things in there that, you know, could be cut and especially in a year where you're facing, you know, significant ificant financial um losses or or issues with with respect to things that are outside the control of the district that you know we can't help it that you know we there was 120 million loss in the the in the tangible personal property and that the the uh the depreciation that the four biggest you know companies that pay you know probably what 60 or 70% of the taxes for the whole county you Georgia Pacific and
060Simol and Florida Power and Light. Um, so I I'm just trying to rationalize uh for me and and for you know based on the comments we've we've heard today and from people that have called you know well tell me specifically you know how that you know what are the line items in those specific departments they're requesting for the 20 256 school year and then what you know we're allocating or basing that our millage rate on in and doing. Does that make sense? >> Yeah, I just counted I have >> I I just counted the number of papers I have and I was going to give a number as well. Thank you. Um so that that is just an example of how many there are. But yes, I I understand what you're saying. We do we
061do get the line item budgets in, but we haven't and I'm I'm I don't know historically Rhonda, but I know the years I've been here and how she trained me. Um we don't change their budget by line item. We we do it as a department as a whole. And so, for example, this year the process was, especially with the situation we're in, is we immediately cut everyone back to what they spent last year. That was the first step. Then we had to do more. So zerobased budgeting and you and from a zerobased budgeting which which means you you based on last year you you cut that. >> Yeah. >> We got them back to where they were last year. >> And so then you basically or the finance department gives those departments a lump sum
062sum of money to allocate to those particular line items as they prioritize. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. the salaries and benefits is not included in that >> and and that prioritization I think should be reviewed by the board to make sure we agree with that that you know it's following all the the requirements that that that we would have either collectively or or recommendations we would have individually. >> I completely understand what you're saying with that aspect and you know as far as the board and how that goes that's y'all's decision to make. Um, we at our side, we don't actually know where they're putting those funds, though. Like when we give a department half the money they got, they may all of a sudden decide, you know what, that desk we were going to
063buy that we have in this line item, we don't need anymore. So, we don't know where they're going to put it. So, if you're wanting something that will show the true nature of where they're wanting to put it, that would actually have to come after they know what dollar they're getting. um they do send us line item budget request. Um when they send everything to us by 6:20 or mid mid June is normally when we do the deadline. Um but we again we don't get down to that aspect of it because we know they're not going to get >> interject Mr. Chair if you don't mind. I'm gohead. questioning the role with the board right now because our our role as the administration is to is to bring you a budget, okay, to approve. And
064again, I'm asking how granular you're asking for the board to get. I mean, as far as getting into the actual nuts and bolts of creating a budget, that's what we do and we bring it to you for your approval to vote on. of course ask questions, but if you're talking about how you're gonna based on what he said as far as let's say if transportation gets X dollars, how are you going to prioritize how they're going to spend that? That's what I'm saying. >> Yeah. I'm I'm not saying that we would prioritize. We would just see what this expenditure is and so that we would have, you know, a better understanding. Well, this is why, you know, the transportation department gets $60 million or whatever it is. I mean, I I don't think that standpoint.
065>> Yeah. And if I hear you saying right, Jonathan, we're just talking about total dollars. We're we're not >> as administration, we're not getting into each department. Each department actually determines how they're going to spend that money. So, you're talking about just total money is allocated to the department. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Those and I will say just off your comment, those departments determine their department needs. That's obviously not something for us to judge. Um, >> but ultimately you you approve that, right? I mean, >> yeah. I mean, our our three assistant superintendent, Lord, you want to >> Well, and any item that's over $50,000, we bring to you to approve before we send the money. So, even if I pick, I'll give you an example. We use Edgenuity as our credit recovery program.
066>> So, I budget to pay for edguity. Okay? But I I ask for that money, but I can't spend that money until you approve that I can spend that money on because it's over 50,000. So every every item that I need to spend that money on that's over 50. >> Is that a separate line item in in your budget? >> It's it's a group of items because it is a 5100 because it's for students and it is a license. So that's 369. So it becomes an online license that I use that goes to every school. So but I have lots of different items that are going to be a 5100 360 like Alex. Alex is a a math product that we use for seventh and eighth grade in algebra and geometry. That's a 5100 369.
067Does that make sense? So >> yeah. No. Yeah, I understand what you're saying. >> He might not that that's what I'm buying with it. But I take all of those products, I put them together and I put them in that line so I know how much I need. >> And and what in that line is is how do you >> determined by the red? >> It's determined by your red book. It's 5100 is anything to do with students. >> 369 is a tech rental and so like a site license for a year. >> Okay. So, but so I don't give him the list of all the products that we're going to use this year for students or for teachers. I I have those together and I put those in my budget and I send it
068to Jonathan to approve the budget. And then let's say something happens and um I'm unhappy with the service um Alex has provided us, I don't have to use that money. I might find That's now a workbook >> which would be a 520 5100 520 and I would just say I need to move that money that I was going to spend on this online site license into textbooks 520s and and so they're they aren't micromanaging that piece. They approve it right that I have this budget to pay for so that I can buy something but I didn't have to go outside of my department budget to ask for that money. Sure. Yeah. That's done all the time in every every individual purchases. >> 50,000 is a lot of money. So, Dr. concerns. Going back to your
069your question, I think if we just had the total for the budget, you know, I mean, how it how all the departments, you know, adds up to the 126 million, at least that would give more information, you know, from the standpoint of the public say, okay, well, transportation is >> So, so you're looking at totals for each department, correct? What I'm hearing? >> Yeah. >> So, comment on that. >> Can we do that? >> Can you clarify? >> Yeah. just the what? Okay, we've have that we're setting the tenative mill today. So, they know now what they're going to have at least as a minimum amount of money and so each department now um will have that. So, so we can see a breakdown of all 20 departments of what their total expenditure or what
070their proposed budget is for 2526. >> Okay. So, right now I can't I would have a number for what we've budgeted what we've allocated to each department. I would I would have their lump sum and we could do that. Um, and I just wanted to kind of feed off Laura real quick. One, she kind of gave the license example. That's one of the reasons why our first step is to at least try to give them what they spent last year to keep things as is and not have to obviously cut programs if you can. >> Well, and and you know, our priority should be the instructional education side. you know, I mean, minimal or no cuts if if at all possible because you know, it's a struggle that you know what what the the um
071let me see if I can say this. The if you the the students that we have as Mr. Buckle said are many of them are below the poverty line or just above the poverty line. And so that's a very different uh situation than our surrounding school districts and Clay and St. John's at Flagger and you know u it's a it's a very different situation and ultimately it costs more you know because there are things that we have to provide that those schools wouldn't provide. So anyway, but yeah, if we could just do the department budget, you know, and and maybe uh before the September 11th meeting just, you know, so the public knows, okay, here's the here's the total budget, the 126 million is what I'm talking about. And here's the department breakdown of of
072what their their proposed expenditures would be uh for 2526. >> And building building off of what the chairman said about about kids and and what we deal with, Mr. Kase brought up the fact of where we stood in the state and I, you know, I agree with him. I've done it for this is about 23 24 years I've been sitting through this type of thing and having to deal with these budgets and I can tell you it it is about you got to worry. All this stuff is just stuff. It's about teaching the kids in facilities that aren't the worst in the state of Florida. And the bond issue that was passed is probably the biggest catalyst that's got everybody so up in the air like it was in the 80s. I remember going to
073those board meetings and they were there'd be a hundred people in a board meeting like this screaming at the board and I'm serious and and you know it was just it was a bad time and that's that's where we are. I mean, the majority of voters of Putnham County decided that they wanted their kids to be in facilities that weren't next to the lowest or worst oldest in the state of Florida. So, it's a we I like what Phil said on on trying to figure out ways to show the money, but you know, every budget you try to have enough that you're going to have a surplus or or either close to break even at the end of the year. And that way if you do have money it rolls over to pay the other
074bills that may have been a shortfall. So I've just done this so long it that's >> you know Mr. >> Yes. And then you >> and and I was just going to say to to Mr. Case and I I hear what you're saying and I understand you're concerned about us closing the gap. We where we are to where we want to be. And what I hear Miss Fran Miss Fr Mrs. France saying is that we're doing those things with some of the program. our our progress is not as fast as as we would like it to be and we have pockets of success but but I feel we are moving in the right direction and with the concern of of citizens and and and the support because you could have come in here with a
075whole different uh mindset but you are concerned about our children and what we're doing and the programs they have come up with about pulling our children back from homeschool situations we're in. When those children come back to us from having been homeschooled from from uh 2020 when COVID hit, >> h it's it's really bad. Now, they're the ones that are struggling, you know. So, we're we're we're tempting to do the things with the programs that we have in place. And that is something we have to watch and and we can't wish it away. We we have to work and use the finances that we have at our disposal and hopefully make this make this you know >> ask Mr. to share just our district data at a snapshot because we've been doing this with staff
076this week. >> Okay. Could he come up doing that? What what gap are we closing? I'd like for him just to kind of give just a little bit of a headline of what that looks like. And in all fairness, when we close it, the state will raise the bar again and the same districts go back to where they were in standing. That's the way the system designed to keep funding opportunity scholarships to different avenues that are that people want or that the government won't. >> You're recognized. >> Thank you, sir. Um wasn't prepared for that, so it's off the top of my head, but I will share the handout that we gave all of our school leaders last week. Um on Thursday we had all of our principles and assistant principles together and I started
077the day with district data. So some of the highlights off the top although we are never satisfied with where we are we are always striving to be better. This past year um in ELA grades 3 through 10 we had a total of 48% of students achieving a three or above which is the highest since 2011 in our district. We had 46% of students achieving a three or higher in mathematics, which is the highest since 2014 in our district. Of the 12 categories that make up our district grade, we improved in 10 of them. We maintained in one of them, and we decreased in one of them. Our overall points earned as a district was the highest it's been since the modern calculation began in 2015. And although we are still a C district, we are
078at the high end of the C district realizing that in 2015 I believe it was or 15 2015 or 16 we had 42% of points which was one point from a D district. If you look at the way the bands are created for district scale for determining grade the C range is the one of the largest. the B range is very tiny and then obviously A range is is above and pretty large. Um but we we have been striving to improve and our students are performing higher than they have in the past. Um, in science we were highest. Um, in social studies we maintained um or matched one of our higher ones. And I have the other data points. So I'll share that document with you guys um because I have all of that data
079on there. But those are the highlights off the top of my head. >> Jonathan, just to finish your thought on the the C, we were one or two points away from a D back in 15 or 16 and this year we're two points away from a B. Is that correct? >> Yes. And in 2023 when the district grades were statistically equivalent because of COVID and some of the legislative changes, we earned 54 54% of our points, which would have been a B had the state not had the statistically equivalent in place. And so we were still a C even though we had 54 points. This year we earned 55% of points total, which is two points away from a B. But next year that scale increases again and so now we have to have 60%.
080So you know we strive to get there and we get very close and then the the rules or the band or the threshold always changes. Um but we'll keep working at it but now we have to get 60 not 57. So those are some of the challenges and I understand that people want a B district and they want an A district. Um, but even within the C district, I'm proud of the uh achievement our students have been meeting and our teachers work very hard. Um, to have the highest ELA in math that we've had in over a decade is a complement to the work they're doing and the work that we're doing. >> Great. Thank you. Good explanation. >> Thank you, John. >> All right. Thank you. >> M Pickers, did you have a question?
081Um well my my only comment is that I do think that it would be very beneficial to the public to see the monies that are necar because it is part of our budget but to see that that's not our budget that's their budget and have it separated because it's a substantial amount of money if you if you subtract it from our total budget. budget. So, it is our budget, but we have to include NE effect in there. >> And what what NE effect is is 14 rural districts, >> 15 small rural districts, and we are the fiscal agent. That means they come here once a month at least, and they all meet the superintendents from these districts. >> And we we work together and and network throughout the state of Florida to help bring and
082solve issues and get funding for districts like Putnham County. and and these small rural districts have similar issues and we're fortunate to have been able to keep them here all these years. I remember many years ago one school board wanted to run them out of town. This has been 20 years ago and and Flaggler County showed up wanting to take them in another county and but we wound up keeping them here so we could have some type of leverage together. Together all of them make up the size of one of the larger districts in the state of Florida. Power in numbers. So it's a it's a problem that we try to fix. >> I certainly didn't mean to be critical of nect. I just think that we need to separate so that everybody is aware
083of it and maybe some people are aware of it but I think um I think the average person is not aware of that >> and and so we use a lot of acronyms up here. That's the Northeast Florida Educational Consortium and and their offices are here um right out uh by the airport. Um, okay. Mr. Odin, do you have anything else? >> Um, on that note, I would I would like to say for this budget summary, we can't actually separate them out. Again, that is how it's required to be presented by the state. So, it's always going to be this way as far as when it goes out into the public opinion. So, anything we try to change or show them separate from us would have to be through the website or just or education.
084>> Yes, sir. and and it's up to us to point that out >> when we have these meetings. >> So, I want to I want to clarify before we move on to the roll call vote. You are asking for me to send the base dollar amount we've allocated for the departments to you to you all. Well, and and then post it on the website too with the budget once I mean this this document that the document that we just the the overall document that's posted and then under that if you could you know post the department um budget totals. Okay. >> So that people know that you know what what department specifically the funding is going to. I I will work on a report to properly I was going to say to properly show because
085I know like right now if we pull one of our regular reports that shows the budget we've given them it'll show zero it'll show zero all the way until September 11th because they don't have a budget until September 11th. Um, so as even that we might not be able to accurately portray on the website until after September 11th because until we the final approval, they won't actually they won't even see in Skyward their total dollar amount. Um, that being said, um, we can now move on to the roll call vote on each millage rate and each fund's budget. So, >> okay, we'll we'll move to item C and um we need a a motion and a a second to for approval and then I'll have the board attorney call ro. So, chair will entertain a
086motion starting with uh C1. >> Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion that we adopt the tenative required local effort millage rate of 3.041 041 mills which includes a prior period funding adjustment of 0.018 mills. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. Roll call. All in favor? District one? >> Yes. >> District 2? >> Yes. >> District three? >> Yes, sir. >> District four? >> Yes. >> District five? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chair, >> are we ready? >> Yes, ma'am. The next one, uh, I move acceptance of item C2, tenative discretionary millage rate of 0.748 mills. >> I'll second that, Mr. Chairman. >> All right, I have a motion and a second. Uh, roll call, please. >> All in favor? District one? >> Yes. >> District two, >> yay. >> District three, >> yes.
087>> District four, >> yes. >> District five, >> yes. Item C3. >> Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion that we set the adoption for the tenative debt service millage rate of 1.56 mills. >> I'll second that. >> 76. Yes. >> Yes. >> Second that was with with it being a 76. >> All right. We have a motion and a second clarification. That was 1.576 mills. Correct. Correct. >> Yes. >> All in favor of district one. >> Yes. >> District two. >> Yes. District three. >> Yes. >> District four. >> Yes. >> District five. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chair, >> I offer motion of adoption for item C4, tenative capital outlay millage rate of 1.50 mills. Second. >> Have a motion and a second. >> Ready. >> All in favor? District one? >> Yes. >> District
088two. >> Yay. >> District three. >> Yes. four. >> District five. Yes. C5. >> Let's see. That was >> We're on number four now, Phil. Is that correct? >> C5. >> I'll make a motion that we approve the tenative total millage rate of 6.865 mills, which is 1.11% above the roll back rate. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call. All in favor? District one? >> Yes. >> District two, >> yes. >> District three, >> yes. >> District four, >> yes. >> District five, >> yes. All right, we'll now move to the adoption of the tenative tenative budgets for 2526 school year and D1. >> Mr. Chair, I move to um approve item D1, tenative general fund budget of 126,63,85765. >> Second. >> Got a second. >> I have a motion
089and a second. Roll call. >> Those in favor of district one, >> yes. >> District two, >> yay. >> District three, >> yes. >> District four, >> yes. >> District five, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Chair adoption of D2 tenative debt service funds budget of 14,53,830 cents. >> I will second that. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Those in favor of district 1? >> Yes. >> District two? >> Yes. >> District three? >> Yes. >> District four? >> Yes. >> District five? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chairman, I make a motion we approve D3 tentative capital projects funds budget. Um, this will make you blink your eyes here. 237 >> million99 and85.76. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Those in favor of district one.
090>> Yes. >> District two. >> Yes. >> District three. >> Yes. >> District four. >> Yes. >> District five. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chair. D4. Tenative off a motion of adoption. tenative special revenue funds budget of 27,359,58012. >> I have a motion and a second roll call. >> Those in favor of district one, >> yes. >> District two, >> yes. >> District three, >> yes. >> District four, >> yes. >> District five, >> yes. >> Mr. Chair, I offer a motion on D5, the tenative internal service funds budget of $44,875,553.97. >> I got a second from Sandy. Okay. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Those in favor? District one? >> Yes. >> District two, >> yes. >> District three, >> yes. >> District four, >> yes. District five.
091>> Yes. >> D6. Mr. Chair, I will make a motion that we approve D6 tentative permanent funds budget of $151,835.72. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Those in favor of District 1? >> Yes. >> District two. >> Yay. >> District three. >> Yes. >> District four. >> Yes. >> District five. >> Yes. Uh D7, >> Mr. Chair, off a motion that we adopt um D7, tenative enterprise funds budget of 27,154,83.7. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Those in favor, District 1, >> yes. >> District two, >> yes. >> District three, >> yes. >> District four, >> yes. >> District five. >> All right. our final adoption of D8, the total district tenative budget in its entirety. And I don't I will
092make the the uh recommendation for D8 and I've had as many phone calls in text as some of you guys. Uh the total to to approve the for advertising the total district tenative budget in its entirety of $477,658,546.36. >> Second. >> All right. Have a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Is that for advertising now or is that for approval? >> Approval. >> Sorry, I'm >> approval. Thomas probably straight. >> So the motion is for approval. Correct. >> Correct. >> Approval. >> So those in favor, district one, >> yes. >> District two. >> Yay. >> District three. >> Yes. >> District four. >> Yes. >> District five. >> Yes. >> All right. We'll move to item E1. Advised property appraiser. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion that we um advise the property
093appraiser that Thursday, September 11th, at 5:05 p.m. in the schoolboard meeting room, 200 Reed Street, Palaca, Florida. A public hearing will be held to consider the final millage rate and the final budget. >> I'll second that. >> Have a motion in a second. Do we need a roll call on this? wouldn't hurt. >> All right, we'll do a roll call on E1. Those in favor? District one, >> yes. >> District two, >> yes. >> District three, >> yes. >> District four, >> yes. >> District five, >> yes. And before we adjourn, um I'm going to take the chairman's privilege and ask any board member that has any comments. We'll start with you, Miss Pickkins, and we'll move down the line. >> No, I I think I've >> Okay, Mr. Buckle. >> I just a few
094things. I really, you know, took to heart what Mr. Kase said because that is our our goal. But as I look back over the years, I've I'm just, you know, some of the votes we've had together as a board recently, I've it's not the first 4-1 votes I've ever been involved in. Back when COVID started, I had this room fill up with people from Jacksonville to to Tampa demanding I resign. It was front pages daily news because I didn't want to close schools for COVID. When the guardian tronium program came and was approved, I was a 41. I was the one long vote to approve the guardian program on the first goround until it was got a little further. Uh I was of one long vote not to sell the property at the intersection in
095interlocking initially until the board got more information. And uh lately I've had several votes where I voted opposite direction of the remaining board members, but it has to do with the perspective that I've dealt with from my time serving where the superintendent serves. And it's nothing personal against you guys. Uh I just looking at this today, I can remember the taxpayers league that formed in the last bond issue of the 1980s. how the room was filled, how they came in, went through every budget in the building, how hard it was to deal with the taxpayers league, and they were good people, friend. A lot of them were friends, you know, it's just But we've got a job to do that's required by the state of Florida, and that's what we're doing here today. We've got
096to come up with a budget, and it's got to be advertised properly, notify the property appraiser, and with that, I'll pass it on. >> Thank you, Miss Gillyard. >> I'm good, sir. >> All right. Thank you, >> Miss Wagger. You good? >> I I I enjoyed the discussion earlier. I'm thankful that we got some more information and I'm looking forward to uh some of the additional information we'll be getting >> and and so just for clarification everybody knows this is we're setting the millillage we cannot go up on it but we can go down you know I challenge the administration to you know take one final you know sharp pencil and and see if there's any opportunity to do that um uh between now and the September 11th and um also we'll look forward forward
097to receiving those and and you know they can even be tentative department budgets. Jonathan, I mean, you know, we won't have the final until obviously after September 11th. Um, Mr. Holmes, >> I think, superintendent, >> I have a brief comment. First of all, I want to thank Jonathan for >> all the many hours he's put in preparing this and great job >> and first solo. So, that's good. And I want to thank Jonathan Hanky for coming up and providing the overview. And I I just want to make one comment about uh the there were some comments about us being in the 60s as far as academics. I get that, but right now we are about we're about improving this district. And if we can make kids, our schools better this year than we made them
098last year. We are about constant improvement. And we have come a long ways from 2015 to where we are now. So I'm very proud of that. And whatever the ranking is, the ranking is But I'm about making sure that our district is continuing our progress and um to do that we need our resources. So with that, back to you and thank you for your time. >> All right. No other comments. Uh we'll stand ajourned. Okay.