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School Tax Information

How are school tax rates determined?

The School Board’s share of property taxes is driven by two main factors: the School Taxable Value established by the Property Appraiser, and the millage rates approved by the Legislature and local governing bodies. Both of these figures can change from year to year based on economic trends and policy decisions.

  • The Florida Constitution requires property appraisers to set the property tax base each year using a January 1 valuation date. After determining the market value, the appraiser applies all exemptions, classifications, and assessment caps to calculate the taxable value for each property. Additional information on assessments and the appeal process is available at the Charlotte County Property Appraiser Website

    You can also find out more about the Property Tax Exemptions from the Florida Department of Revenue Website

    The following equation outlines how to estimate a property’s school taxable value with the assumption of a home purchased for $120,000 in 2020, valued at 2025 market rates:

     

    Market Value $200,000
    Save our Home Exemptions - 65,000
    Assessed Value = $135,000
    Homestead Exemption
    (limited to $25,000)    		 - 25,000
    School Taxable Value = $110,000

     

    The Property Appraiser’s Office is responsible for determining a property’s market value. A homeowner’s tax bill reflects both the assessed value and the applicable tax rate. When property values increase, the overall tax bill can rise as well, even when the millage rate remains unchanged.

  • Local governments levy a property tax rate known as the millage rate. Cities, counties, and special districts set their rates independently. For school districts, the millage rate is determined each year through a combination of state action by the Legislature and local action by the School Board.

    Legislature

    The Legislature establishes the school millage rate through the General Appropriations Act. Legislative committees review ongoing priorities, evaluate new proposals in education, and set the statewide education budget. This budget determines the Required Local Effort, which represents the portion each district must contribute to the Florida Education Finance Program. The total RLE for all districts appears as a specific item in the General Appropriations Act. The Commissioner of Education may adjust the rate to ensure that no district’s RLE exceeds ninety percent of its total FEFP allocation. The Legislature also sets a per student funding amount that is supported by both the RLE and the local 0.748 discretionary millage.

    School Board

    The School Board sets the Capital Outlay Millage within the limits authorized by the Legislature. The current maximum is 1.50 mills. Capital outlay funds may be used only for construction, renovation, remodeling, and equipment needs.

  • Each August, the Property Appraiser mails a Notice of Proposed Property Taxes, commonly referred to as the TRIM notice, to every property owner. The notice lists the proposed millage rates for each local government and includes the date, time, and location of the public budget hearings where those rates will be reviewed.

  • The School Board usually holds its Tentative Budget Hearing at the end of July, followed by the Final Budget Hearing in September. The millage rate becomes official when it is approved at the Final Budget Hearing.

  • Each November, the Property Appraiser issues the final tax bill to property owners. Early payment qualifies for a discount. All payments are submitted to the Charlotte County Tax Collector’s Office.

What is a mill?
A mill is the tax rate applied per one thousand dollars of taxable assessed value. One mill equals one dollar ($1.00) of tax for every one thousand dollars ($1000) of taxable value.

Required Local Effort
This rate is established by the Florida Legislature. School districts must levy the Required Local Effort in order to qualify for State funding.

Discretionary Millage
This is a local tax approved by the School Board, with the maximum rate of 0.7480 mills set by the Legislature as part of the Florida Education Finance Program.

Referendum
A voter approved 1.00 mill for Charlotte County Public Schools provides locally controlled operating funds that support student programs, instructional staffing, and other classroom needs that are not fully covered by State funding. This voter approved levy helps maintain essential services and educational quality across the district.

Capital Funds
These funds support construction, facility maintenance, equipment needs, and repayment of debt.

Operating Funds
These funds cover salaries for staff, including teachers and support personnel, along with utilities, instructional programs, athletics, and other day to day operating costs.