Granbury Independent School District (GISD) earned an A rating in the Texas Education Agency’s Financial Integrity Rating System (FIRST) for the 11th straight year, a result that underscores the district’s fiscal health and responsible use of taxpayer dollars, according to South Texas News.
During the October 19 board of trustees meeting, GISD chief financial officer LaTisha Griffin explained that the district achieved a total score of 94 out of a possible 100 points. The FIRST rating evaluates 21 indicators across three categories: accountability, financial stability, and financial competence.
All four critical accountability indicators—timely submission of the annual financial report, an unmodified audit opinion, on‑time debt service payments, and prompt payments to the Teacher Retirement System, the IRS and other agencies—were passed. Indicators 5 through 14, which assess solvency and long‑term sustainability, received the highest possible scores in nearly every case.
The only area where GISD fell short was Indicator 8, which measures the short‑term assets‑to‑liabilities ratio. The district earned four out of ten points after a state overpayment of $16.8 million in 2025 temporarily inflated short‑term liabilities. “In 2025, the state overpaid Granbury ISD and that increased our short‑term liability very quickly (when the money was returned to the state),” Griffin said, noting that the repayment caused the six‑point loss.
Board member Tim Bolton expressed disappointment that a state error negatively impacted the district’s rating. “The TEA created a liability for us and then punished us when they foolishly gave us (an extra) $16.8 million that wasn’t ours,” Bolton remarked. Representatives of the Texas Education Agency were unavailable for comment.
Griffin also addressed steps the district is taking to avoid similar issues. She said GISD is working with the state to correct the property‑value overestimate that led to the overpayment and to ensure future calculations are accurate.
For the final set of indicators (15‑21), which focus on financial competence, GISD earned the highest possible rating on each criterion, reflecting strong financial management practices, data accuracy, compliance and transparency.
What’s next? The board will continue monitoring the district’s financial metrics and will pursue ongoing dialogue with the Texas Education Agency to safeguard against future overpayment errors. Future board meetings will provide updates on any corrective actions and will keep Granbury residents informed about the district’s fiscal stewardship.
Sources: southtexasnews.com
