Harlingen CISD board adopts balanced 2025–26 budget, approves districtwide pay increases; tax rate set preliminarily

Harlingen CISD trustees on Wednesday approved a balanced budget for fiscal 2025–26 and a compensation plan that raises pay across job categories, while staff presented a preliminary property tax rate that will be finalized in September.

The district’s budget presentation, given by Ira Ambrise of the business office, proposed a combined legal budget of $222.9 million for the three funds that must be adopted — the general fund, food service and debt service — and an all-funds total of $260.5 million. Ambrise said the administration also is proposing a preliminary tax rate of 0.9061 per $100 of assessed value based on estimated certified values; the final rate will be set when the appraisal district releases final valuations.

The budget matters because it funds payroll, operations and planned maintenance across the district. Ambrise said the board is being asked to approve the official budget now and that the final tax-rate…