Bastrop ISD adopts 2025–26 budget and compensation plan, including state-funded teacher raises

Bastrop Independent School District trustees voted June 17 to adopt the district—s 2025—26 budget and a companion compensation plan after a public hearing and staff presentations. The budget covers general, debt service and food-service funds and funds priorities the board identified during the year: opening Ableton Elementary, converting intermediate schools to middle schools and restoring elementary student supports.

"This is the culmination of almost six months of work," Mike White, chief financial officer, told trustees during the public hearing, and he said the district is presenting a balanced budget. White highlighted legislative changes that increased state funding for schools and described how those allocations were folded into the plan.

The compensation plan adopted alongside the budget uses newly available state resources and district funds to increase pay across the workforce. White described the state-directed raises for teachers (guidance released by TEA this week defines eligible teachers as those serving at least 0.5 FTE in a teaching capacity) and said the state—s program includes two tiers that districts may see in practice as $2,500 and $5,000 increases for qualifying staff. District-funded increases will raise support staff pay by 5%, increase teaching assistants by 5%, raise the district starting teacher salary (presented in materials at roughly $57,075) and apply a 3% midpoint increase for administrators.

Trustees asked for clarification about which employees qualify for the state raises and how district career pathways could affect pay. White said the TEA FAQ released this week answers some questions but that many situational determinations will require further guidance; he pledged to report back to the board as TEA issues more definitive instructions. On campus-level budgets, White said the district will "true up" allocations after October when final enrollment snapshots are available; he emphasized that the district—s current plan does not reduce any campus—s funding.

The board moved to adopt the budget (motion by Speaker 11) and approved the compensation plan in a separate motion (moved by Speaker 3); both motions passed on voice vote.

Items related to finance that the board approved in the same meeting included a motion to extend the district—s depository contract with First National Bank of Bastrop (see separate item). The child nutrition budget was presented as a separate fund, and staff said they will return with refined child nutrition numbers after staffing and procurement details are finalized.

The budget adoption begins the district—s remaining administrative steps to meet the June 30 legal deadline; White laid out the next milestones, including certified values release in late July and proposed tax-rate actions in August and September.