Vidor ISD adopts balanced 2025–26 budget, holds tax rate steady amid homestead-exemption change

The Vidor Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the district—s 2025—26 budget and set the 2025 tax rate on Aug. 19, voting 7—0 to adopt a $47.9—48.0 million revenue plan and a total tax rate of 1.061962.

District finance staff told the board the budget reflects a significant expected change in the statewide homestead exemption anticipated on the November ballot and higher state funding under the current school finance formulas. The presentation noted local taxable property value available to the district fell in the calculations used to set rates because a proposed increase in the homestead exemption would reduce taxable value per homestead from $100,000 to $140,000 if voters approve the measure.

The change matters because state and local revenue interact under the Foundation School Program: less local taxable value can mean more state "hold-harmless" or other state allotments. "If for some reason, the voters went to the polls in November and said we don—t want a larger homestead exemption, and it stayed at the 100,000, these numbers would shift a little bit," district presenter Dr. Mains said, explaining the calculations. "We would collect more locally. The state would put less into…