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You Decide (One Mill)

You Decide - One-Mill Continuation

Orange County Public Schools One-Mill Continuation Referendum

About:

The Orange County School Board has called for a referendum election on November 3, 2026, asking voters whether to continue the current one-mill property tax dedicated to supporting essential operating expenses for Orange County Public Schools. The continuation would begin July 1, 2027, and end June 30, 2031. Funds support teacher and educational support employee compensation, academic programs, arts, athletics, and student activities.
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Official Ballot Summary:

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA AD VALOREM MILLAGE ELECTION

Shall the School Board of Orange County, Florida continue the current one mill ad valorem millage for essential operating expenses, including compensation for teachers and educational support employees, preserving academic programs, arts, athletics, and student activities, beginning July 1, 2027, and ending four fiscal years later on June 30, 2031, shared proportionately with charter schools as legally required, with annual reporting to ensure proper fiscal stewardship of these funds to the citizens of Orange County?

Important Dates

Voter Registration Deadline (Primary):

July 20, 2026

Vote-by-Mail Deadline:

September 25, 2026

Voter Registration Deadline (General):

October 5, 2026

Early Voting:

October 19 – November 1, 2026

Election Day:

November 3, 2026

Understanding School Funding

School district funding comes from several millage components, including Required Local Effort (RLE), Critical Capital Millage, Discretionary Millage, and the voter-approved Special Millage. The referendum continues an existing funding source rather than creating a new tax.

OCPS Millage Rates

A stacked bar chart displays data over several years, with different colored segments representing various categories.

Where Your Dollar Goes

 

78¢
spent on teaching, transporting, supervising and counseling students
11¢
spent on acquiring, operating and maintaining school facilities
7¢
spent on library materials, staff training and curriculum development
4¢
spent on central and fiscal services, general administration and district technology

Funding Challenges

State funding has not kept pace with inflation. When adjusted for inflation, state funding has not kept pace with rising costs. The chart illustrates how funding per student compares over time and highlights the role local voter-approved funding can play in helping schools address critical operational needs.

A chart displaying Funding per student in OCPS

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. The referendum asks voters whether to continue the existing one-mill funding source.

  • Teacher and support staff compensation, academic programs, arts, athletics, student activities, and other essential operating expenses.

  • From July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2031.

  • Yes. The ballot language includes annual reporting to help ensure fiscal stewardship and accountability to Orange County residents.