McKinney ISD board adopts tax rate, budget amendments and new library advisory process; approves multiple routine items

The McKinney Independent School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 18 adopted a $1.1043 tax rate, approved budget amendments tied to new state funding and compensation items, and adopted several procedural policies and committee appointments required by recent state law.

Tax rate and budget The board adopted a proposed tax rate of $1.1043 per $100 of assessed value (M&O 0.7343; I&S 0.37). The formal motion used statutorily required language that the rate represented an effective 1.4609% increase for truth-in-taxation notice purposes, although the administration noted the total rate represents a roughly $0.02-per-$100 decrease from the prior year's overall rate after state compression calculations. District staff said the adopted rate, combined with updated state aid templates, supports a budget amendment that increases projected revenue by roughly $20.7 million and expenditures by about $13.2 million, producing a near-balanced amendment with an estimated $21,000 surplus under current templates.

Why it matters: The adopted tax rate and subsequent budget amendment reflect adjustments required by updated certified property values and a wave of state funding changes this year (including HB2 allocations). The administration cautioned funding templates have changed repeatedly in recent weeks and could continue to be revised, so the current amendment reflects best-available data.

Major votes and board actions at a glance - Consent agenda: Approved as presented. Items included minutes, financial reports, cooperative purchasing reporting and a variety of routine contract and facility items (pages 4'32 of the board book). - Student Code of Conduct: Adopted as presented (annual statutory adoption). - Personal communication devices policy (FNCE local): Adopted to comply with House Bill 1481, which restricts student use of personal electronic devices during the school day. - Library materials policy (EFB local) and school library advisory council (SLAC): The board adopted EFB local to align with SB 13 and authorized a district-level School Library Advisory Council; trustees selected a single, district-wide advisory council structure and appointed members as listed in the board book (pages cited by staff). The board voted 6'1 on the EFB local adoption. - School Library Advisory Council resolution and appointments: Adopted; the appointees were listed in the board book (board packet page 306) and will serve under the policy procedures. - School Health Advisory Council (SHAC): Members for 2025'6 were adopted from nominations submitted this year. - Budget amendments for 2025: Approved, incorporating new state funding allocations and compensation adjustments (administration presented a version based on the latest funding template).

Board and staff comments Finance staff and the superintendent emphasized that TEA funding templates and levy inputs have changed multiple times this summer; the district's current balanced amendment relies on the seventh version of the state template and could be refined as state guidance evolves. Administration noted the board adopted a compensation option earlier in the summer; the budget amendments incorporate those compensation decisions and related pay increases.

Implementation and next steps Staff said they will process the adopted tax rate and file required notices, finalize amended budgets, and bring any needed further adjustments to the board as state calculations are finalized. The newly authorized SLAC will be convened and trained before the library-materials procurement process begins next year; the board also instructed staff to return to the board if the council structure needs to be altered after initial operation.

Ending The board completed its business with routine monthly reports and set dates for upcoming training and meetings. Trustees adjourned after approving the items listed above.