Resident questions where new property tax revenue and FLIPA grant appear in Harris County school budget

Brian McKeen, a resident who signed up to speak during the public participation portion of the Oct. 9 Harris County Board of Education meeting, asked the board to explain how recently approved property tax revenue and a referenced FLIPA grant are reflected in the district's proposed FY26 budget.

McKeen said he reviewed the proposed budget and found the property tax revenue line listed as $32,395,344. He told the board that, after accounting for the county commission's 2.5% share, the tax increase would produce $33,435,593.53, creating what he called a $1,040,249.53 surplus.

"So now you've got the money. My question is, what are you gonna do with it? What are you gonna do with a $1,600,000 unbudgeted surplus?" McKeen said, referencing the combined effect of the tax increase and what he described as grant amounts.

McKeen also asked where a $300,000 FLIPA grant received last year appears in the FY26 budget and referenced an amount of $907,769.17 for the current year. A staff member responded in the meeting that the grant "is in there" and that they would have to identify which line item contains the grant funds.

Chairman Garnet Ray III reiterated the board's rules about not discussing individual student matters in public when another speaker, Rachel Cox, asked about her daughter being locked out of a school building; Ray directed Cox to contact the superintendent's office and the board secretary to arrange an executive‑session appointment for privacy.

McKeen's remarks requested clearer public accounting of the tax revenue and grant funds; the meeting record shows a staff commitment to identify the relevant budget line items and report back, but no formal follow-up timeline was set at the meeting.