Giddings ISD adopts $25.16 million budget, sets tax rate at $0.80888

The Giddings Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the 2025'026 adopted budget of $25,160,314 and a total tax rate of $0.80888 per $100 valuation at its Aug. 21 regular meeting. The tax rate is composed of $0.66180 for maintenance and operations and $0.14708 for interest and sinking. The budget passed by a 6'0 vote with one trustee absent.

The board also approved 2024'025 budget amendments before adopting the 2025'026 budget. The district reported an estimated $68,000 surplus for 2024'025 and listed fund balances and the primary revenue sources: $13,573,872 in local and intermediate revenue, $10,458,420 in state program revenue and $1,196,022 in federal revenue. Major adopted expenditures include $12,293,884 for instruction, $2,438,488 for debt service, $2,263,458 for maintenance and operations, $1,228,565 for food service and $1,175,136 for co-curricular activities.

Board motions and votes were recorded in the minutes. The consent agenda, which included approval of minutes, payment of July bills, campus activity account reviews and acceptance of donations, was approved 6'0 with one absence. Trustee Spencer Schneider moved approval of 2024'025 budget amendments; Trustee Martin Rangel seconded and the motion passed 6'00. Trustee Roy Kruemcke moved to adopt the 2025'026 budget; Trustee Heather Garner seconded and the motion passed 6'00. Trustee Spencer Schneider moved to set the 2025'026 tax rate at $0.80888; Trustee Pat Jackson seconded and the motion passed 6'00.

Trustees reviewed a line-item budget change log. The minutes list several budget amendment transfers for 2024'025, including increases or transfers in function codes such as 199, 23, 36, 51, 53, 71 and others; several entries were recorded as transfers to or from fund balances. The district's adopted budget document also notes two newly required line items: a statutorily required public-notice budget line (Function Code 41) implemented per Senate Bill 622 and a lobbying/disclosure line required by House Bill 1495.

The board received information about a proposed Contract for Collection Services with the Lee County Tax Assessor-Collector covering Sept. 1, 2025'Aug. 31, 2026. The contract text included an administrative fee of $63,838 for the 2025 tax year (calculated as 27,050 parcels at $2.36 each) and listed services the county would perform, including preparation and mailing of tax statements, collection of current and delinquent taxes and preparation of monthly reports. No board action on the contract was recorded; the minutes indicate that information was provided only.

The board moved into a closed session at 7:06 p.m. and reconvened at 7:44 p.m.; no action resulting from closed session was reported. Trustees then heard campus reports and a superintendent update, including an enrollment increase districtwide from 1,753 on Aug. 12 to 1,793 on the current date.

Financial documents and the adopted budget are part of the board minutes and the district's public records for the fiscal year beginning Sept. 1, 2025.