Laredo ISD trustees review 2025–26 budget options, weigh tax pennies and salary models amid new state voucher law

LAREDO — At a budget workshop Thursday in the Amber Urie Boardroom, LAREDO ISD trustees reviewed the district’s projected 2025–26 shortfall and considered options to raise maintenance-and-operations revenue, fund salary increases and shore up finances amid upcoming state changes including Senate Bill 2, which establishes education savings accounts (ESAs).

The meeting opened with a staff presentation on the district’s 2025–26 budget status and options for increasing stipends and pay. Presenter Miss Ayala told trustees that the current maintenance-and-operations (M&O) rate is 0.6669 and that each proposed “golden penny” of the tax rate would generate roughly $3,500,000 for the district. She said a model for an average homeowner (market value $133,000) shows an average current property tax of about $242.90; adding three golden pennies would raise that homeowner’s annual bill by about $6, while adding more pennies could increase the bill further.

Why this matters: trustees said any local tax action would go to voters and would affect employees, homeowners and commercial property owners. Trustees and staff also discussed the potential for enrollment losses if parents use ESAs to move students out of public schools, a factor that would reduce state…