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Comal ISD board adopts 2025–26 budgets, approves 3% employee raise amid projected $19.1 million deficit
Summary
The Comal Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the districts 2025-26 budgets and adopted a compensation plan that includes a 3% pay raise for employees not covered by state teacher raises, while administrators warned of a projected $19.1 million deficit tied to tax-exemption and funding changes.
The Comal Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the districts 2025-26 maintenance and operations, debt service and child nutrition budgets and adopted an employee compensation plan that includes a 3% pay increase for employees not covered by state-mandated teacher raises.
Superintendent Russell "Russ" Garner and district finance staff said the budget reflects laws passed in the 89th Texas Legislature and a local property-tax change that increases homestead and over-65 exemptions. "This budget was built on laws enacted by the 89th legislative session," Finance staff told the board, who noted the local homestead change reduces taxable value and drove a projected general fund shortfall of about $19.1 million for 2025-26.
The board voted 6-0 to adopt the budgets and the compensation plan. Trustee David Krasinski moved to approve the compensation plan; Trustee Courtney Biasati seconded. Trustee votes on the budget were recorded as 6 in favor, 0 opposed.
Why it matters: district leaders and trustees said the combination of state funding changes and a larger local homestead exemption reduced the districts taxable base even as student enrollment grows. Administration recommended the 3% across-the-board midpoint increase for employees who were not included in the state-mandated teacher pay adjustments, saying it was intended to assist support staff while preserving a fund balance above the districts policy minimum.
Details: staff described the districts general-fund budget as approximately $341 million and said projected revenues were roughly $322 million, leaving the reported $19.1 million gap. Finance staff said the district expects to remain above its policy minimum fund balance but flagged that the fund balance would decline if the deficit is realized. Administrators also noted an ongoing state review of the districts special-education allotment that could affect prior-year revenue but said any adjustment would be recognized as a receivable and does not change the 2025-26 planning baseline.
Board discussion ranged from concern about long-term sustainability to support for the staff recommendation. Several trustees said they would prefer a larger raise if additional state funding becomes available; Trustee Jason York said he would be willing to support up to a 5% raise but voted with the majority to approve the 3% plan.
Next steps: administration said it will monitor state action (including discussions with the Texas Education Agency and state leaders) and return to the board with any necessary budget amendments. The board will adopt official tax rates in August; trustees were told the current projections keep the districts adopted tax rate unchanged for now.
