Conroe ISD board adopts $761 million budget, keeps tax rate unchanged at $0.9496

The Conroe Independent School District board of trustees adopted a balanced $761.05 million budget for the 2025–26 school year and approved a combined tax rate of $0.9496 per $100 of taxable value after a public hearing Tuesday night.

The board's action, taken after presentations by district finance staff, kept the maintenance-and-operations rate at 0.6696 and the debt-service rate at 0.28. The vote to adopt the budget and the tax rate was unanimous.

Why it matters: The budget and tax-rate decisions set the district's financial baseline for classrooms, salaries and operations through the coming school year. The plan incorporates state school-finance changes enacted this session and funds an approved pay schedule for employees.

Finance staff said the district expects roughly $60.98 million in additional revenue next year, about $41 million of which is linked to changes in the state's House Bill 2 funding formula. That funding increase helped the district present a budget in which projected revenue equals expenditures, leaving a balanced general fund for the year.

"We are recommending no change in the tax rate, 0.9496," said Miss Garza, a district finance staff member who presented the budget and tax proposal. Garza told the board the total projected revenue would rise to $761,050,000 under the proposed budget.

Key details from the administration's presentation: - Total projected revenue and budgeted expenditures for 2025—6 are $761,050,000. - The board-approved salary schedule increases starting teacher pay to $63,500; the board-funded salary changes and related costs were described as adding $33.18 million in recurring personnel costs. - The district plans to add 142.75 full-time equivalents (FTEs) for 2025—6 at an estimated cost of about $8.07 million; district staff said most new positions are to support special education caseload growth. - The budget dedicates 89.3% of expenditures to payroll; contracted services (including utilities) and supplies are the next-largest categories.

During the required public hearing before the vote, no members of the public spoke on the proposed budget or tax rate. The board then moved to adopt the budget and later set the tax rate; board minutes show both measures passed unanimously with recorded votes.

What the administration said about state funding: Garza and staff briefed the board on the major school-finance actions from the recent legislative session, including large, targeted allotments for teacher retention and special education and a new allotment to help address inflationary operating costs. The administration estimated Conroe ISD's portion of the state funding changes at about $41 million.

What happens next: The adopted budget and rate will govern district finances for the coming fiscal year. Under state law the board's formal adoption and the public hearing satisfy legal notice and transparency requirements.

Actions - motion: "Approve the 2025—6 official school budget as presented." mover: "Trustee Nelson" second: "Trustee Semler" vote_record: [{"member":"Trustee Nelson","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Semler","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee May","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Dawson","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Horton","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Duncan","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Odenweller","vote":"yes"}] tally: {"yes":7,"no":0,"abstain":0} outcome: "approved" notes: "Adopted after required public hearing; staff presented revenue increases tied to House Bill 2 allocations."

- motion: "Adopt the 2025 tax rate at 0.9496 per $100 of taxable valuation." mover: "Trustee Dawson" second: "Trustee May" vote_record: [{"member":"Trustee Dawson","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee May","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Nelson","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Semler","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Horton","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Duncan","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Trustee Odenweller","vote":"yes"}] tally: {"yes":7,"no":0,"abstain":0} outcome: "approved" notes: "Board used statutorily required motion language comparing no-new-revenue and effective rates; the combined rate did not increase from the prior year."

Sources and attribution Finance presentation and public hearing: Miss Garza, district finance staff member (presentation and hearing) Board votes: Board of Trustees roll call at the August 19 meeting

Ending The adopted budget reflects a mix of state funds tied to new allotments, local growth in property values, and district-level staffing changes. The district will begin implementation of the 2025—6 salary schedule and the added positions; the administration said it would publish further details of the spending plan as departments finalize year-one allocations.