Keller ISD’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a $346 million general budget for the 2026-27 school year, including pay raises for every employee in the district. The approved budget shows total payroll projected to climb from about $170.6 million last year to roughly $178.7 million in 2026-27, an increase of around $8 million.

Raises and Benefits

Workers on a formal salary schedule will receive a “step increase,” an automatic increase tied to years of service, plus an additional 1% raise on top of that. Everyone else will get a flat 1% increase. The district is also increasing its health insurance contribution by $25 a month or $300 over the course of a year.

There’s also the possibility of a one-time bonus for all staff at some point during the school year, but district administrators stopped short of promising one. They said they need to see more “revenue data” this fall before they can say whether the money will be there.

Comparison to Other Districts

The 1% across-the-board raise puts Keller ISD on the lower end of what DFW-area districts are offering this year. McKinney ISD approved a 3.5% salary increase for all certified teachers, non-exempt employees, and eligible exempt employees at its April board meeting. Plano ISD also gave a minimum 2% raise to its staff this year.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.