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LAMAR CISD board adopts balanced 2026–27 budget, approves 3% pay increase and tax-rate option to accelerate debt paydown
Summary
The LAMAR CISD Board of Trustees approved a $572.2 million general fund budget for 2026–27, a 3% midpoint pay increase districtwide, and selected a tax-rate option that lowers the total rate while raising the I&S component to pay debt earlier.
The LAMAR Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees on June 9 approved the district's 2026–27 budget, a compensation plan that includes a 3% midpoint raise for employees, and a tax-rate option intended to reduce long-term interest costs by increasing the interest & sinking (I&S) portion.
Finance director Mr. Buchanan presented the proposal during a public hearing, calling a proposed general fund of $572.2 million balanced for 2026–27 based on preliminary certified property values showing 4.49% growth and an enrollment figure of 50,037 students. He said payroll accounts for approximately 85% of expenditures and that the board's recommended fund-balance range would leave the district at about 18.6% under the proposed budget.
Why it matters: Trustees emphasized that the package preserves pay increases for staff while positioning the district to reduce interest costs on bonded debt. Mr. Buchanan said each penny of the levy generates about $2.9 million in local taxes and explained two tax-rate options. The administration recommended Option Two, which still lowers the overall tax rate but increases the I&S portion to help pay down debt sooner.
Trustees questioned the child nutrition deficit, which staff attributed to rising fuel and food costs. Buchanan said the child nutrition fund would draw down roughly $2.7 million under the proposed plan, bringing that fund's projected balance to $6.7 million by June 2027; staff said the general fund would cover any ongoing shortfall if necessary. On teacher pay, Buchanan confirmed the first-year teacher minimum would increase from $66,700 to $68,900 and the district will apply a 3% midpoint increase across staff.
The board moved from the public hearing into the consent agenda and later voted to adopt the budget and compensation plan. The motion to approve the 2026–27 general fund, debt service and child nutrition budgets and the compensation plan carried on an electronic vote.
What's next: Staff will return to the board in August with a public hearing on the proposed tax rate once certified values are finalized; the administration expects to bring the tax-rate adoption for possible approval at the Aug. 26 board meeting.
