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Greenville ISD gets first look at 2026-27 budget; finance presenter flags property-tax reform risks
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Summary
At a board meeting, the district’s finance presenter gave the first reading of the 2026-27 budget, projecting roughly $68 million in revenues and $67.5 million in expenses, while warning that proposed state property-tax reforms could reduce local growth and hurt district revenues.
Mister Martin presented the first reading of Greenville Independent School District’s 2026-27 budget, telling the Board of Trustees that preliminary property-appraisal values were expected imminently and represent roughly 60% of the district’s revenue picture.
The finance presenter said the district is currently projecting about $68,000,000 in total revenues for 2026-27 and about $67,500,000 in total expenditures, and emphasized that those numbers remain provisional until preliminary appraisal values and any legislative changes are confirmed. “Preliminary property values are expected to be in my inbox this week,” Martin said, adding that the district bases its revenue estimates conservatively because appellations and appeals typically reduce the preliminary appraised values.
Why it matters: property valuations and state policy changes drive the district’s ability to fund staff, services and bond-related debt service. Martin highlighted personnel and compensation as the district’s top budget priority: staffing adjustments, pay increases and incentives — particularly for special education positions and bus drivers — are being evaluated ahead of final adoption.
Key details: Martin reported current average daily attendance (ADA) at just over 93.3%, projected next-year ADA near 93%, and said the district’s beginning fund balance for 2025-26 was $24,989,752. He estimated the district’s debt-service outlay tied to the existing bond program and forecasted roughly $23.6 million in debt-service expenses aligned with the bond schedule. On child nutrition, the presenter said first-year full-year estimates for the district’s dinner program place expenditures around $1,410,000 while administration continues to refine participation and revenue estimates.
On state-level risk, Martin warned that continuing discussions of further property-tax reforms at the Capitol could reduce local property-tax growth and ‘‘really, really hurt us.’’ He said some voucher- and property-tax reform proposals remain fluid and that the district is monitoring CASBO, TEA and appraisal-office signals closely.
Next steps: This was the first of three required board readings; the second reading is scheduled for May 18, and the board expects to adopt the budget and set a proposed tax rate in late June. Martin said the district will finalize revenue projections after receiving preliminary appraisal values and any legislative updates.
Source: Remarks by Mister Martin during the board meeting; first reading began at the board’s presentation of the 2026-27 budget.
