Highlands County schools set tentative budget for 2026-27

Highlands County School Board approved a tentative 2026-27 budget of $189 million, a figure that is more than $11 million lower than the prior year’s tentative plan. The decision came as the board began the formal process required under state law, which mandates public notice of the tentative budget before a public hearing where the official budget and millage rates are set. While tentative budgets can be revised before final adoption, the article notes they generally decrease rather than increase. If an increase were needed later, local governments would have to restart the notification and public hearing process with the updated, higher budget and millage rate. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.