School Board to lower millage rate

The School Board of Sarasota County set a tentative millage rate for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, and it’s down from last year.

The total millage rate was tentatively set at 7.209 per $1,000 of taxable property value, which is down from last year’s 7.433 mills.

This year, the county's total value of taxable assessed property increased by 7.32%, or about $4 million.

This rate is tentative, meaning it can be lowered as the budget process moves forward, but cannot be raised. A public hearing to adopt the tentative millage and budget is planned for July 25.