Bay City ISD trustees adopt 2025–26 budget, debate one-year ‘disaster’ tax pennies vs. voter-approved rate

Bay City ISD trustees adopted the district’s 2025–26 budget as presented following a public hearing and a prolonged discussion about how to address a looming deficit.

The board held a public hearing beginning at 6:15 p.m. and later moved to adopt the budget; the motion to "adopt the current budget as presented" was made from the floor by Trustee 10, seconded by another trustee, and passed 4–0.

The discussion before and after the vote focused on two options to increase revenue: the board can adopt up to 12 “disaster” pennies on the tax rate for one year without taking the measure to voters, or the district can seek a voter-approved tax rate that, as the board described it, would require a 60% supermajority at the ballot box to remain in effect beyond a single year. Board members and staff described the choice as between a guaranteed, temporary revenue stream and the risk of asking voters this November and possibly failing to reach the required supermajority.

District staff…