The Okeechobee County school board held two workshops on a proposed $160.3 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year.
The proposed millage rate at 5.384 is a slight increase over last year.
Local property taxes are due to go up from $17.9 million to $19.7 million.
Superintendent Dylan Tedders said spending is up about nine percent.
The operating budget appeared to show a decrease of $5 million.
The district also will spend $57 million less since the spent much of the state funding provided for the new Okeechobee High School construction.
“The property taxes have gone up. The funding from the state and federal funding has gone down. Like everything all expenses are on the rise.”
Tedders said while the governor claims record funding for education, that is not the case district by district.
“We really have to take measures and tighten things up. IF the downward trend in funding continues through 2028, we have to make sure we are really good with our budget because we will have fewer funds coming from the state. We will have to provide the same level of service and that level of service is still expensive.”
Okeechobee City Council approved a future land use map change from industrial to commercial on a small .15 acre piece of land at 803 SW Park Street. It will accommodate the new Tire Corner business.
They approved a land use map change for a city block on 4.3 acres between NW 9th-10th Avenue from NW 6th-7th Street. It will change the use from single family to multi family.
The developer plans to build four duplexes and 16 single family homes. The maximum density allowed under this land use is 42 units.
Vice Mayor Monica Clark suggested a moratorium on multi-family housing projects in the city.
“I think we need to get a handle on conflicts between the zoning and land use map. We can’t afford to pave our streets as it is. Were giving someone permission to have 42 more cars on the street.”
The council also approved the purchase of a new Harley Davidson motorcycle for the city police department traffic unit at a price of $36,736. They also approved a new Dodge Charger police car purchase for $35,200.
The Glades County planning Board approved the preliminary plat for the Alligator Point project in Lakeport.
The 14-lot single family home subdivision is planned on Milum Drive along the L-50 canal. It would be developed on 3.6 acres of land. It is near Ted Beck Road and Lakeport RV park.
Each lot would measure 10,000 square feet.
There was no public comment at the hearing.