Harlandale ISD board adopts 2025–26 budget, approves $60,000 starting teacher pay and $1.2575 tax rate

The Harlandale ISD Board of Trustees on June 16 approved the district's proposed 2025–26 annual budget, a compensation plan that sets new-teacher starting pay at $60,000, and a proposed combined tax rate of 0.7575 for maintenance and operations and 0.50 for interest and sinking, for a total rate of $1.2575 per $100 of assessed value.

The vote followed a public hearing on the budget and multiple public commenters who raised concerns about equity in how state House Bill 2 funds are being applied and about a proposed change to the teacher attendance stipend. Superintendent Sotto and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Flores presented the budget and answered trustees' questions.

District officials described the budget as a multi-fund plan that uses state retention allotments and local funds to increase pay for eligible teachers and to raise other staff pay. The proposed general fund revenue is $132,333,131 and proposed general fund expenses are $143,594,826. The administration said it will use the full projected teacher retention allotment of $3,083,850 and the full support-staff allotment projected at $405,319, plus district proceeds from local and state aid projected at $1,198,562, to implement the compensation plan.

The compensation plan presented to the board implements pay increases that mirror House Bill 2 eligibility tiers: $5,000 for eligible teachers with five or more years of credible experience…