DeSantis proposes funding increases for schools
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget recommendation for the next fiscal year contains funding increases for schools, including more money for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and charter schools.
School District of Lee County Director of Budget Kelly Letcher on Tuesday provided some numbers, which she said are preliminary.
“I’m not sure where we are going to end when the legislative session is done,” she said.
The base student allocation is projected for a $94.04 increase, or 1.78% from $5,331 to $5,426.
The recommendation would be a total funding increase of $34,921,951. The Family Empowerment Scholarship has an increase of $10,734,583 and district schools and charters have an increase of $24,187,368.
There was a decrease in some categoricals, such as educational enrichment of $2.2 million and ESE guarantee allocation of $4.6 million, Letcher said at the school board meeting.
Safe Schools would receive an additional $363,000 and Mental Health Allocation would receive an additional $398,000.
Chief Financial Officer Dr. Ami Desamours said with this being the governor’s budget recommendation legislation action has to take place for the final budget.
“It’s the first indication of what may happen at the state level,” she said.
Although the district does not have final numbers, staff will start releasing the school allocations at the end of March.
“There is a lot of information we don’t know when releasing school allocation,” Desamours said, adding that schools have to plan now for personnel and resources they may need for the next school year. When “formulating the school allocation we have to take the very best information that we have – making some assumptions and upon the assumptions create allocation for schools next year.”
She said as the budget finalizes updates will be provided.
“We have to make decisions on what we know,” Desamours said.