McAllen ISD trustees review draft 2025–26 budget, discuss raises, staffing and state legislative risks

McAllen ISD trustees and district administrators on Tuesday reviewed early figures for the 2025–26 budget, including payroll savings of roughly $11 million, possible salary increase scenarios and proposed repurposing of vacancies to create campus and program positions.

The presentation, led by Gloria Garcia, deputy superintendent for business and operations, outlined a $273 million 2024–25 baseline, one-time costs already charged to the fund balance and a range of estimates for new revenue and savings that the district expects to finalize before the budget is adopted in June.

The budget matters because McAllen ISD faces both internal choices about staffing, stipends and raises and external uncertainty tied to state legislation that could shift funding flows. "Priority number 1 is that we're not going to lay off employees," said Doctor Gutierrez, who framed sustaining programs, avoiding layoffs and continuing salary increases as the board's top priorities as the district plans the next biennium.

Administrators told the board they have identified nearly $11 million in payroll savings driven in part by unfilled positions and schedule changes at the secondary level. Garcia said the district ended the…