By Frank Derfler
At its Aug. 20 meeting, the Monroe County school board held a budget workshop where they described reducing the tax rate from last year, but they also expect to collect more property tax dollars.
That happens because the assessed valuations of properties have gone up across the Keys. A property owner’s bill from the county for schools is proposed to go up 2.37%, or $32.66, if their home is valued at $500,000 last year and receive the homestead exemption. Those with a similar residence but without a homestead exemption will see their bill rise 9%, or $132.70.
Decisions on funding for the county’s schools take place from September through November, and taxpayers are invited to participate.
The Monroe County School District is one of 14 Keys taxing authorities. Six of those, like mosquito control and the judicial system, are countywide. A person’s property bill also has taxes, including another school tax levied by the state and by taxing authorities like the Water Management District. The state money for schools spreads to all counties to level differences in funds available in a county to pay for schools.
Only a small percentage of the state school tax money comes back to Monroe County. If you are 65 or older and have the $50,000 exemption on your real estate assessed value, that exemption doesn’t apply for these two school taxes. The $25,000 homestead exemption does apply.
Taken together, the “school” line can become the largest dollar item on a property owner’s real estate tax bill. Decisions about how most of that money is gathered and spent are made by the members of the Monroe County school board.
The Monroe County property appraiser’s office has mailed the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice. The TRIM notice is not a bill; it is a forecast and the property appraiser uses it to invite the public to participate and speak in the process of determining local taxes. A public hearing on the final Monroe County School District budget will be held at Marathon High School on Sept. 10.
During a prior meeting, school board member John Dick pointed out that very little of the funds in the school operating budget are discretionary.
“You have to run the buses, pay the staff and provide benefits,” he said.
At the same meeting, Charlene White, the district’s executive director of finance and performance, discussed a recently received $4.2 million invoice from the Florida Blue Health Plan that was several times the anticipated amount.
The school tax should generate $128.54 million in 2024-25. The district also receives some funds from the items, labeled school state law, on the real estate tax bill. Those state funds come according to a formula designed to reduce the differences in assessed property wealth between counties.
Monroe County Schools have two other sources of funds that depend on voters. The November ballot will contain an item known as the “half-mill.” This the ballot referendum would provide funds to be used for school district operations. It doesn’t create any new cost to taxpayers.
“Renewing the half-mill is crucial for our ability to retain high quality teachers and staff, provide school nurses and school resource officers at every school and maintain the high quality educational opportunities our students deserve,” said Sue Woltanski, school board chairwoman.
The other referendum item in November, known as the “half-cent,” is a sales tax that pays for buildings, upgrades and maintenance.
Voters have approved both of these ballot items for 20 years in a row.
Retiring school board member Andy Griffiths, who served on the board for more than 30 years said, “We have to remind the voters every year to renew these authorities, but we continue to receive strong support from the Keys communities.”
