Dade Schools Weigh Tax Increase As State Health Costs Strain Budget

Dade County school leaders are weighing a tentative budget that would raise the school tax rate by 1 mill while still requiring the district to use about $1.5 million in reserve funds to cover a projected operating deficit.

The fiscal year 2027 tentative budget, presented during the recent Dade County Board of Education meeting, lists the school system’s general fund with an estimated $25.2 million in revenue and $26.8 million in expenses.

The proposed 1-mill increase is already included in the revenue side of the tentative budget. Board Chair Jayne Griffin said the increase would help limit how much the district has to pull from reserves, though it would not eliminate the need to use reserve funds altogether.

“The tentative budget includes a potential 1 mill increase,” she said. “And as a board member, from my perspective, that is to keep us from having to dip so far into reserves, though we still have to dip into reserves.”

Under the tentative budget, the general fund is projected to begin the year with a balance of about $7.48 million and end the year with about $5.88 million. That reflects a planned use of roughly $1.59 million in reserves to offset the remaining shortfall.

Ingle said one of the district’s major financial pressures is employee health insurance, particularly because the district has limited control over the cost.

Ingle said the school system cannot simply move away from the state health insurance structure because it is tied to the teacher retirement system. He said the monthly health insurance cost per employee has increased sharply since he came to the district office in 2018.

“It was less than $1,000,” Ingle said. “Now it’s $2,000 and some change per month per employee. So that’s why.”

While the state provides funding for some certified positions, Ingle said the district bears the cost for locally-funded employees, including some secretaries, paraprofessionals, custodians and cafeteria staff who elect to take health insurance.

He said the district has about 75 locally funded employees who take health insurance, which puts the local cost in the millions.

“For some of our employees, what the board pays annually for their health insurance is actually more than their annual salary,” Ingle said.

Griffin said the concern is not only the current deficit, but the possibility that the same cost pressures continue in future years.

“I’m sure the public would say, ‘Leave it alone, you’ve got the reserve fund,’” Griffin said. “Well, we’ll be empty in two years, and we started with $9 million.”

The budget is not final. The board is expected to hold a series of budget hearings before voting on a final budget. The proposed millage rate increase also would not be finalized with the budget itself. That would require a separate vote later this summer, following adoption of the budget and additional public hearings.

Also during the meeting, Ingle congratulated the Dade County High School Class of 2026 and said the graduation ceremony went smoothly. He said students received more than $2.5 million in scholarship awards, not including HOPE Scholarship funds.

The board also recognized Dade County High School student athlete Kent Tajima, who won the state championship in the 170-pound weight class at the GACA State Weightlifting Meet at Heard County High School. Tajima won with a 255-pound power clean and a 250-pound bench press.

Dade County High School Athletic Director Vic Grider said Tajima represents the kind of student the school wants in its building.

“That guy is the kind of person you want in your school building,” Grider said. “He’s a model student, he does exactly what he’s told to do. He’s always where he’s supposed to be, and the fact that he is involved in athletics just adds to the good things about him.”

Grider also gave board members an update on athletics at Dade County High School. He said the school offers 10 girls sports, nine boys sports and two coed programs, bass fishing and e-sports.

During the past school year, Grider said 228 students participated in athletics, representing about 45% of the high school’s student population. He said that figure does not include students involved in band, theater or chorus.

Grider said 68% of Dade County High School student athletes made some type of honor roll during the school year.

“That tells me that they’re not just interested in the athletic side of things,” Grider said. “They’re also interested in what’s going on in the school building.”

Grider highlighted several athletic accomplishments, including the girls golf team winning an area championship and advancing to the state tournament. He said sophomore Riley Brown was the overall medalist at the area tournament, while Mason Weathers was the boys overall medalist.

Grider also noted that five student athletes signed scholarships to continue their athletic careers after high school. They included Lexi Lawson for softball at Shorter University, Mason Weathers for golf at Bryan College, Jake Harris for fishing at Bryan College, Waylon McDeal for track at Covenant College and Evan Avans for football at the University of the South.

Shenea Hill also updated the board on the district’s NASA HUNCH and Green Power programs. Hill said Dade Middle School has served as a 3D print center for NASA HUNCH since 2021 and that local students continue to work on projects connected to spaceflight, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Hill said the NASA HUNCH Academy work is being aligned with fifth-grade science standards so teachers can embed projects into classroom instruction.

She also highlighted the Green Power Middle School team, which has won four consecutive races, and said students are using 3D printing, design and engineering skills as part of the program.

Hill said the district’s work in NASA HUNCH gives students unusual access to advanced projects and future career pathways.

“We are a very special program,” Hill said. “They know how rare it is.”