- February 26, 2025
The tax rate from Volusia County Schools that residents will see on their property tax bill this fall will be $7.336 for every $1,000 of assessed value. This was decided in a final vote by the School Board in their DeLand chambers Sept. 9.
Residents who own a house valued at the Volusia County average of $109,543, with a homestead exemption of $25,000, will pay $620.21, or $32.16 more than last year.
The tax is 5.5% higher than the rolled-back rate, which would bring in the same amount of money as last year.
Although the School Board votes to approve the tax, Robert Moll, deputy superintendent for financial and business services, said the state has the “lion’s share” of taxing authority. Florida mandates that county school districts tax a rate of 5.079 as a “required local effort.” The Volusia County School Board voted for 0.748 in discretionary millage and 1.5 in capital outlay to make the total 7.336.
The total budget is $776.8 million, compared to $766.8 million last year. Moll said pressure on the budget included hiring principals and guidance counselors that had been cut in previous years. (Some schools have been sharing principals). He also said the school system must pay into the state retirement system, comply with class size mandates and teach more students.
Volusia County Schools also receive money from the state based on the number of students. A final tally will be made later in the year, and the state may lower the amount if school enrollment does not meet expectations.
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed,” Moll said. “We hope they give us as much as we expect.”
Linda Costello, commissioner for District Four, said she met with Superintendent Margaret Smith, and asked her if the budget did enough to improve schools that are scoring at lower levels. After the talk, she said she feels comfortable with the budget.
“Things can always be improved, but I feel we’re making a significant effort to improve academic performance,” she said. “They are adding an hour a day for reading and also adding tutoring and instructional programs.”
Superintendent Smith said that enrollment had increased 498 over last year, an indicator of a healthy economy. Last year’s enrollment was 61,140.
“Families are moving to Volusia County,” she said.
Only one member of the audience took the opportunity to speak. Leslie LaRue, of Deltona, said she had been attending the School Board budget meetings, because people always talked about waste.
“I found there is no waste,” she said. She said she wanted to thank the School Board for all they do.
She also said she had been volunteering at her child’s elementary school, and said it was a learning experience for her.
“People need to be aware of the discipline challenges teachers face,” she said. “It made me ill to see all the misbehavior.”
She said three students were late, and she didn’t think it was fair that teachers were judged without taking into account that some students don’t show up on time.
She said more parents should spend time volunteering, instead of complaining.
