[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6193146,"mediaKeyId","3868218-af96e55fb73be631abf229df681e0498","parentId",3868218,"title","Tomball ISD presents balanced 2025–26 budget after state funding changes; board to consider rate in September","audioSeconds",2775,"startMs",525000,"endMs",3300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868218-af96e55fb73be631abf229df681e0498&start=525&end=3300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868218-af96e55fb73be631abf229df681e0498/thumbnail_525000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193146/Texas/Tomball-ISD-presents-balanced-202526-budget-after-state-funding-changes-board-to-consider-rate-in-September","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193146-cc47ddec024080d21466d098f2751b07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751133&Signature=f7hrN1POEft00fTKYDtmOa3jlMH8Jdr57Chlo6p22vgv8nJX1qGYc0xRa5V57SEBpBXjpDhTGKJSdUntmo7qYSS11vkrBNDQtyLAcjTcL0tMc~j2CLycAOS9rBTy-uA0Z7IFvrAJlSRyqy6auR-Y-0P82xTb~BZoDYKIpFxK2r0jYAwIwEHVDfe1fRNtOdRN3digrORxLQR315kbJD78TI~y8e~VasCeLkxscvlzHLzucc9C2w81NLW7-~-cT3-qyUNMV7S~AOPKo7~J2HIRCslnGNNOMvjw4WGMD3AnEAAGMO8fS5eDhQGGL~h48VEpiL15zOfZ~iS5JUIPoJzWKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tomball ISD","date","2025-06-18T12:16:13Z","article","TOMBALL ISD — Tomball ISD officials on June 17 presented a balanced fiscal 2025–26 general fund budget they said reflects changes from the recent legislative session and a package of state allotments that together raise the district’s state revenue by about $11.8 million.

Chief Financial Officer Zach Bowles told the board the state’s House Bill 2 and related legislation shift some funding to districts and create targeted “retention” allotments for teachers and support staff that the district must pass through to employees. “We are presenting a balanced budget,” Bowles said during the workshop hearing.

Bowles told the board the largest single pieces of new funding for Tomball are the teacher retention allotment (about $6.0–$6.3 million estimated), a support‑staff retention allotment (about $880,000), a new enrollment‑based “basic cost” allotment (about $2.4 million), and an increase in the school safety allotment (about $630,000). He said the state’s changes also include expanded homestead exemptions (Senate Bill 4 and related bills) that will affect local tax bases and require the district to adopt a tax rate in September under the assumption the voter‑approved change will pass in November.

Why it matters: district staff said most of the $11.8 million is already earmarked by state rules or by the district’s implementation plan. The teacher allotment must be passed to qualifying classroom teachers (defined in the law as those spending four or more hours in instructional settings), and the support‑staff allotment must be spent entirely on salary increases for eligible nonadministrative staff.

Key figures and how the district plans to use the money

- State funding change: House Bill 2 allocated roughly $8.5 billion statewide; Tomball ISD’s modeled increase is about $11,800,000. Bowles described that as a mix of newly allocated dollars and reallocated state funding.

- Teacher retention allotment: the district’s model uses the state definition tied to years of experience. Tomball’s implementation shows $2,500 for teachers with 3–4 years’ experience and $5,000 for teachers with 5+ years; the district estimated receiving roughly $6.0–$6.3 million for that allotment and plans to pass those amounts to eligible teachers. Bowles said the allotment is intended to sustain initial raises and that TRS (Teacher Retirement System) will treat the allotment as TRS‑eligible salary.

- Support‑staff allotment: the law provides an ADA‑based allotment the district estimates at about $880,000. Bowles said the state requires every dollar be used to increase pay for eligible nonadministrative positions (counselors, librarians, nurses, custodial staff, bus drivers and similar roles); Tomball modeled a 2% general increase for support staff to meet the mandated spending, with the district covering an estimated shortfall (about $105,000) needed to achieve that percentage.

- Basic cost allotment: a newly created allotment of $106 per enrolled student (enrollment‑based, not ADA) is estimated to provide approximately $2.4 million to cover items such as property insurance, utilities, transportation and the district’s employer share of benefits linked to the new raises. Bowles said about $900,000 of that allotment is expected to offset the district’s TRS contribution increases related to mandated raises.

- Other amounts: safety allotment increase estimated at $630,000; teacher incentive allotment (TIA) allocation for Tomball reported earlier by the state at about $3.8 million for eligible teachers (separate from the retention allotment and other local raises).

Budget totals and reserves

Bowles presented a proposed general fund budget with revenues and expenditures each at $238,300,000. He said food services and debt service budgets are balanced as well (food service about $12.8 million; debt service about $77.5 million). The presentation noted the district currently holds reserves above the board policy target: staff reported the district is at roughly 34% in reserve and the board policy target is 25% of the next year’s budget.

Taxes and timing

Bowles outlined how property tax relief measures passed at the state level (including higher homestead exemptions and business personal property exemptions) will reduce the local tax base and shift more of the funding burden to the state through tax‑rate compression hold‑harmless provisions. He said the district will adopt a tax rate later in September after certified appraisal values and the results of the November voter approval of homestead changes are known; if voters reject changes in November, the district would need to reissue tax statements.

District pay changes and implementation

The workshop reviewed proposed pay changes included in the 2025–26 salary and benefits book: Bowles said the district proposes a 2% general pay increase for support staff (applied at the midpoint of the district pay schedules) and a 1% general pay increase for administrative staff, while the teacher retention allotment will be shown separately on hiring scales so staff can see the pass‑through amounts. The district also plans a $500 beginning teacher stipend for teachers with 0–2 years of experience.

Superintendent Martha Salazar Zamora told the board the administration will send communications to staff — Bowles said a communication would go out to employees the next day explaining implementation details and that Human Talent (HR) will support individual questions.

Board questions and concerns

Board members asked about the sufficiency of the safety allotment versus actual safety costs (one member noted the district’s contract with Harris County Precinct 4 for SRO services is roughly $2.7–2.8 million, larger than the safety allotment increase). Others pressed for clear communications to employees about how allotments, TRS treatment and total compensation will appear on individual salary confirmations. Several trustees emphasized the need to avoid continued use of reserves and to protect the board’s 25% reserve policy.

What remains procedural: The June workshop was a public hearing and review; Bowles and staff repeatedly noted that final actions on the salary and budget items would occur at the regular meeting later the same evening. The workshop did include a formal adjournment motion that the trustees approved unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Workshop Board Meeting | June 17 2025 | Tomball ISD","oneSentenceSummary","TOMBALL ISD — Tomball ISD officials on June 17 presented a balanced fiscal 2025–26 general fund budget they said reflects changes from the recent legislative session and a package of state allotments that together raise the district’s state revenue by about $11.8 million.","taxTitle","TOMBALL ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14339,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193141,"Tomball ISD to amend interlocal with Harris County Precinct 4 for one additional SRO at West Intermediate",327,5433000,5760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868218-af96e55fb73be631abf229df681e0498&start=5433&end=5760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868218-af96e55fb73be631abf229df681e0498/thumbnail_5433000.jpg","/articles/6193141/Texas/Tomball-ISD-to-amend-interlocal-with-Harris-County-Precinct-4-for-one-additional-SRO-at-West-Intermediate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193141-2c0d0ce031c4bcc083bea595fbb06a17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751133&Signature=I5rJl3nnB7~XwS5V7Ijf6osGo2rvxf8ZkNjE7o3XY1olYdSd7eHJfqU~xDEanxfqJYXM6hj7PDO5M5AsySCn~PTOFV3mVavm6WCokabhGoJMEayddbOmDGt6iJiLuLSrdpqnAo1EkyTJjxgFgPYFuqZEcOUhZbYZ1p1fM0OoUjAe5A2VDMfZc54bH4LZqzn2V4RFzRJWKytifDe8mQYse1es5Ym~gYs5oe8-wQcyfksKbTuetQtqYnnnw4XmQKNU5aKQBO1AoRaXKtIs9OE-IKQD0suDyrqoPdKv~cdFIUb0aksG-9fq1soudp24SujI1j~2sit~-t9b9L3R5EdZog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","TOMBALL ISD — Tomball ISD administrators reviewed a proposed addendum to the district’s interlocal agreement with the Harris County Precinct 4 constable’s office to add one additional school resource officer (SRO) at West Intermediate for the 2025–26 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Martha Salazar Zamora and administrative staff told trustees the amendment reflects timing differences between the district calendar and the county’s fiscal year. For the initial two months during the district’s opening period the district will cover 100% of the officer’s pay; the agreement will be folded into the precinct’s October 1 contract cycle thereafter and presented for formal approval at the regular contract review in September and then to the commissioners court, officials said.

Administrators said the contract amendment would raise the district’s total SRO count from 30 to 31. “We have been so pleased with our relationship,” Dr. Salazar Zamora said, praising the precinct partnership while noting the need to manage calendar and contractual specifics.

Why it matters: the SRO program is a district safety priority; trustees discussed the gap between the increased safety allotment dollars from the state and the district’s actual SRO costs. One trustee noted the precinct contract runs roughly $2.7–$2.8 million, which remains larger than the state safety allotment increase. Administrators explained the county requires a specific amendment for officers whose start dates fall outside the precinct’s fiscal cycle and that the precinct cannot commit to hiring an officer full‑time for the county if Tomball ISD only needs the officer for a short two‑month period during the district’s calendar.

What was asked and directed

Trustees asked about timing and the fiscal impact; administrators explained the precinct’s template contract and fiscal limitations and reiterated that the district has paid for such August/September coverage in prior years. Staff said the amendment will be presented as part of the regular considered agenda in the regular meeting cycle and to commissioners court for final county approval.

Next steps

The addendum was reviewed at the workshop; formal approval is part of the considered agenda for the regular meeting. If approved by trustees and by commissioners court, the amendment will add one SRO for West Intermediate beginning with the 2025–26 school year, increasing Tomball’s SRO total to 31.","TOMBALL ISD — Tomball ISD administrators reviewed a proposed addendum to the district’s interlocal agreement with Harris County Precinct 4 to add one additional school resource officer at West Intermediate for the 2025–26 school year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193136,"Tomball ISD to release restricted CTE funds and strategic‑plan funds for 2025–26 programs",193,5267000,5460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868218-af96e55fb73be631abf229df681e0498&start=5267&end=5460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868218-af96e55fb73be631abf229df681e0498/thumbnail_5267000.jpg","/articles/6193136/Texas/Tomball-ISD-to-release-restricted-CTE-funds-and-strategicplan-funds-for-202526-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193136-5a70a0b540e474f06414871a075e0848/orig.mp4?Expires=1770751133&Signature=hcipPr3JTSx03G71hKSrVO1noaMQV6LFjg7gYfFU8wg0Ag8rIzZYjZoYfjZtPBAVKCEn2QpgLDNRYvQC8DUkCJmo0FDJE30VghgTnrH~oKEHoxlNaiucMAv3ybuI5Rakifidy8xi6McW8jq6q~p-aXfLU3tTBlo29ODV9By5ma2FuVKYm8elAQTkrp8VamWBGYJ7kx84MlAjA~pUj4-xUQ6xmLuubWBfnnvuvM6lCMo862Q-3ssCji4gWKE533-Z12l7oG3AtEE3yx-6GUnUrwKPgFyWLTGfUnwpOeu38x6hioDYnn5LGNvMJk2be9hu6xozucR56K~oWjVCov5mxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","TOMBALL ISD — At the June 17 workshop, Tomball ISD administrators reviewed two budget items that would release restricted funds for programmatic use in 2025–26: $1,289,300 from CTE‑restricted funds and $975,000 from committed funds for phase two of the district strategic plan, Exceeding Excellence 2030.

CFO Zach Bowles and program staff described the CTE funds as mandated, restricted state funds that must be spent on career and technical education activities and that the reported money is being released to meet prior required spending thresholds. Bowles clarified that the $1,289,300 is not Perkins federal money; it is remaining restricted state CTE funding the district must spend on curriculum, equipment, contracted services, competition fees, field trips, and other CTE‑related costs.

The $975,000 for Exceeding Excellence 2030 funds will support curriculum writing, contracts, supplies, travel, technology and capital assets tied to the district strategic plan, administration said.

Why it matters: releasing restricted funds directs money to programs and helps the district meet state spending requirements for CTE while advancing the district’s strategic priorities. Bowles said these releases were included in the considered agenda for the board’s regular meeting and are part of standard fiscal management of restricted or committed accounts.

Next steps

Both releases were presented in the workshop and included in the considered agenda for formal approval at the regular meeting that followed.","Administrators asked the board to release $1,289,300 in restricted CTE funds and $975,000 committed for Phase 2 of the district’s ‘Exceeding Excellence 2030’ strategic plan; CFO clarified the CTE funds are state‑mandated restricted funds (not Perkins) and are being spent to meet required program thresholds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tomball ISD presents balanced 2025–26 budget after state funding changes; board to consider rate in September

Tomball ISD to amend interlocal with Harris County Precinct 4 for one additional SRO at West Intermediate

Tomball ISD to release restricted CTE funds and strategic‑plan funds for 2025–26 programs