Edinburg school board adopts 2025–26 budget, lowers tax rate and approves pay increases funded from reserves

The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 22 approved a balanced budget for the 2025–26 school year, adopted a proposed total tax rate of 0.8617 and approved a multi-part compensation package that the board directed be funded in part from the district's fund balance.

The action came after a presentation by finance staff on projected revenues and expenditures and extended board debate over whether to fund additional pay increases from recurring revenue or to use one-time fund balance to cover the difference.

Board finance presenter Adele Felix told trustees the district's proposed total tax rate for the 2025 tax year is 0.8617, down from 0.8727 the prior year, and that projected tax revenues were about $79,000,000 using a 96% collection rate. Felix said changes in state law and property values ' including an increase in the homestead exemption under Senate Bill 4 ' had compressed the local maintenance-and-operations rate. Felix also presented budget assumptions:…