Pearland ISD projects modest deficit for 2025–26 as legislature clouds school funding; board sets June public hearing on tax rate

Pearland Independent School District officials on Tuesday laid out a 2025–26 budget built on conservative legislative estimates and staffing assumptions, projected a $1 million shortfall under current law and set a June 24 public hearing to discuss a proposed tax rate of $1.1157 per $100 of assessed value.

The budget presentation by Dr. Berger, the district’s superintendent, said the district is basing revenue projections on the House’s run of proposed school funding changes rather than the Senate’s alternative calculations. “If we can increase our daily average attendance by 1%, it's about a million dollars extra in our funding,” Dr. Berger said, stressing the district’s sensitivity to average daily attendance and state actions.

Why it matters: Pearland ISD’s revenue outlook depends heavily on pending bills in the 89th Texas Legislature, local property values and student attendance. Board-level decisions this spring will determine whether the district posts the maximum tax rate now (required to preserve flexibility) and what compensation package trustees will consider in June.

Key facts and context

- Funding assumptions: The budget uses a 2% general pay increase (GPI) across the board as the baseline and factors a 5% salary-savings assumption into projections. Stipends and equity adjustments are budgeted separately; HR proposed roughly $310,000 to update stipends across the district.

- Legislative uncertainty: The presentation centered on House…