Sarasota County homeowners will pay about $16 less per $100,000 of taxable property value in school taxes next year, but their children's classrooms will have fewer teachers after the school board unanimously approved a tentative $1.3 billion budget that eliminates 194 instructional positions.

Chair Bridget Ziegler, Vice Chair Robyn Marinelli, Tom Edwards, Liz Barker and Karen Rose voted without comment at the board's July 29 public hearing to set the 2026-27 property tax rate at 5.929 mills, a 2% drop from the current 6.095 rate, the Venice Sun reported. That translates to $592.90 in school taxes per $100,000 of taxable value.

The tax cut comes with a cost. The 194 teaching positions represent a 6% reduction in instructional staff. The district is also eliminating 20 administrative positions and 83 classified roles, a 4% overall decrease in staffing.

CFO Warns District Has Overspent for Three Straight Years

Chief Financial Officer Gabrielle Jaremczuk, who led the budget presentation, warned the board that the district has overspent for three consecutive years.

"In the past three years, the district's expenditures have exceeded recurring revenues," Jaremczuk said, describing how the pattern has eroded the district's financial reserves.

She pointed to two converging pressures: The county's taxable assessed value is growing more slowly than in previous years, and enrollment in district-operated schools is projected to decline by 398 students in 2026-27. Meanwhile, charter school enrollment is expected to grow by about 263 students, and Florida Empowerment Scholarship enrollment is projected to increase by about 631 students.

Voucher Program Growth Has Pulled $45 Million From the District

Those voucher-program departures have removed roughly $45 million from the district's funding, with about 4,800 Sarasota County students now using the scholarships, the Observer reported July 16.

The operating budget for 2026-27 is 2.2% less than the current year's, meaning day-to-day expenses will be lower. The district also cited rising costs for employee compensation as a driver of the multiyear overspending trend.

Final Staffing Numbers Depend on Enrollment Count After School Starts

Jaremczuk said staffing levels will remain "a rolling process," with adjustments after the five-day student count once school begins Monday, Aug. 10. More than 45,000 students countywide are expected to start the new school year that day.

Superintendent Terry Connor presented agenda items at the hearing but made no public statement about the cuts.

Budget Still Needs Final Approval; Vote Set for Sept. 15

The tentative budget is not final. Florida law requires additional public feedback before the board can officially adopt it. That final vote is scheduled for Sept. 15. The next school board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at 1980 Landings Blvd. in Sarasota.