SHARYLAND ISD presents $126.95 million preliminary 2025–26 budget; tax rate, enrollment and debt remain key variables

SHARYLAND ISD administration presented a preliminary, balanced official budget totaling $126,950,961 for fiscal year 2025–26 during a required public hearing and board meeting. The proposed budget covers three funds: the general operating fund, the child nutrition program and the debt service fund.

Administration said the budget is based on projected membership and average daily attendance (ADA) numbers: a projected enrollment of 9,875 yields a membership (maximum ADA-generating count) of 9,682 and an assumed ADA of 9,150 (95% attendance). Those attendance assumptions were cited as a key revenue driver for the district.

Staff described preliminary appraised property values provided by the county appraisal district as roughly $172,292,952 — about a 12.5% increase over prior preliminary figures — but repeatedly noted these values were not certified and final numbers would not be available until July 2025. The district said it will run the state-mandated tax-rate compression exercises when certified values arrive and return to the board to set an official tax rate; administrators emphasized the budget was prepared under current law and will likely be amended after certification and after implementing required elements of recent state legislation (including House Bill 2 provisions tied to staff compensation).

Revenue breakdowns presented by object code included: local revenue for the general fund of $37,161,840 (about 35% of general fund revenue); state foundation funding of $69,607,228 (about 65%); and federal revenue items and child nutrition federal funding for the CNP program. Appropriations by major function were also presented: instruction (Function 11) was listed at about $58.95 million (approximately 55% of general fund appropriations); payroll (Object 6100) comprised the largest single spending category.

On debt, the district reported total outstanding principal of $66,690,000 and total debt with interest of roughly $84,807,007. The administration described prior refinancings and pay‑downs that reduced the district’s peak debt and noted ongoing work to monitor interest rates for future refinancing opportunities.

Administration also presented a supplemental budget (federal grants, active school care programs and insurance funds) totaling $17,696,004.57 and outlined the district’s submission requirements to state authorities (object-code revenue and appropriations by major function).

Procurement and risk-management items discussed during the meeting included competitive-bid results for construction/repairs (seven proposals received for a campus project; Rios United Builders recommended as the lowest responsive bidder after evaluation) and a property-insurance renewal discussion that recommended increasing replacement-coverage limits (from $100 million to $200 million) at an estimated additional cost of roughly $106,000 while noting a higher deductible (transcript referenced an increase in deductible to $250,000 or similar figure as part of options presented).

Board members asked detailed questions about the apparent increase in the tax levy and how state funding would offset higher local values; administration repeatedly noted that certified appraised values and the state’s compression calculation would determine the final local tax rate and revenue. The administration said the budget must be submitted by July 1 (district fiscal year start) and that an amendment would be likely once certified values and final state guidance are available.

The public hearing portion of the meeting was followed by additional agenda items. The transcript records the administration’s recommendation that the board approve the three funds as the official budget; the board’s formal adoption vote is not recorded in the transcript excerpt provided here.