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<\/a>ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014<\/p>\nThe Orange County School Board on Tuesday finalized a reduced budget for the 2026-27 school year. <\/p>\n
“I listen to my colleagues talk about how much they are struggling to survive,” said OCPS teacher Asmaa Elmani. “I listen to the heartbreaking decisions they make to leave the profession.” <\/p>\n
Just some of the sentiment shared as school board members discussed a final budget of $7.9 billion. <\/p>\n
“We are ranked 50th in the country in average teacher pay and our teachers are feeling it every single day,” said Clinton McCracken of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association. “We need the board to prioritize teacher pay.” <\/p>\n
Recently, the district was forced to cut an additional $8.5 million from the budget after 10-day enrollment numbers showed figures were down by 7,800 students. <\/p>\n
“These children and their parents are scared. They’re scared that their kids are going to get shot because, on a daily basis, at least one student brings one weapon to school at every single school across the entire country,” said film producer Mark Hulsewe. <\/p>\n
Ongoing declines in enrollment, coupled with reduced state revenue and rising healthcare costs, are all contributing factors to the district’s cuts. <\/p>\n
School board member Angie Gallo said what’s even more frightening is, that if on Nov. 3, the district’s special millage doesn’t pass. <\/p>\n
“I’m praying that voters step forward and approve the millage, but if they don’t for whatever reason, or in the next four years they don’t, and we keep having these conversations about property tax, it’s gonna be like a gut punch to this district,” she said. <\/p>\n
Florida’s proposed Amendment 3 is a major property tax change that would significantly increase homestead exemptions while reducing the tax base for local governments and cutting funds for schools. <\/p>\n
The “special millage,” the one-mil property tax, is a key part of the district’s funding for teacher and support staff compensation. It includes hiring and retaining teachers, supplements, field trips, and more. <\/p>\n
“We have looked for all the available dollars and this is where we have landed,” said OCPS Superintendent Maria Vazquez. <\/p>\n
The superintendent said more information will be coming out, but they have cut or eliminated positions at the district level, the majority of which were vacant. <\/p>\n