Round Rock Independent School District (ISD) is exploring the possibility of a tax rate election to secure additional funding for the 2026-27 school year. This move aims to address the district’s budget constraints and provide pay raises for teachers not included under the latest state funding legislation.
Budget Overview
During a recent board meeting, Chief Financial Officer Dennis Covington presented a budget projection indicating $485.9 million in expenses against $486.2 million in revenue, resulting in a modest surplus of $291,000. However, the district faces challenges in offering pay raises to teachers not covered by House Bill 2, which was passed in the 89th legislative session.
Human Resources Chief Eddie Curran outlined a compensation plan requiring a 5-cent increase to the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate, currently at $0.7054 per $100 of valuation. This increase could generate approximately $10 million in additional property tax revenue, enabling a 2% general pay raise, raising starting teacher pay to $58,000, and addressing pay compression issues.
Community Input
Members of Education Round Rock, the district’s teacher union, voiced their concerns at the board meeting, advocating for a $20 minimum wage, a $2 raise for hourly employees, and a $1,000 retention bonus. They emphasized that 1% raises are insufficient to meet the rising cost of living. Parents also expressed concerns about potential cuts to positions related to gifted programming.
Anne Drabicky, RRISD’s Chief of Public Affairs and Community Relations, confirmed plans to reallocate TAG teacher staffing based on enrollment levels. This reallocation will not affect district programming, which includes accelerated math and talent development sessions for students.
Looking Ahead
The district last sought a tax rate election in 2023, which voters approved to increase compensation. While no decision has been made regarding the current proposal, district administrators noted that a decision is needed in the coming months to align with the district’s November board election.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
