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HUMBLE ISD trustees adopt 2026–27 budgets with small general‑fund surplus and planned child‑nutrition spenddown
Summary
Trustees unanimously approved the district's 2026'27 general, child nutrition and debt service budgets. The general fund carries a modest recurring surplus, staff will receive the board'approved 3% raise, and the child nutrition budget plans one'time spending to use excess federal funds.
HUMBLE — The HUMBLE ISD Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the district's 2026–27 budgets for the general fund, the national school breakfast and lunch fund, and the debt service fund after a public hearing and staff presentation.
Chief financial presenter Mr. Bey said the district is recommending "a balanced uh small surplus actually in our uh general operating budget this year," while intentionally planning to spend down excess child nutrition fund balances to avoid risking federal funds. He told trustees the proposed child nutrition budget projects about $30.5 million in revenue and includes roughly $8 million in one'time infrastructure upgrades such as coolers and line upgrades.
The budget package includes a 3% pay increase for all staff approved earlier by the board. Mr. Bey said the administration also repurposed central administration dollars to allocate roughly $755,000 for special education needs identified in a recent audit, adding teaching, paraeducator and assessment positions.
The administration presented revenue and expenditure estimates showing the general fund projecting approximately $560 million in revenue and $559.5 million in expenditures, yielding a small recurring surplus the presentation described as "about $659,000." The budget is built on a preliminary flat tax assumption pending formal tax-rate adoption in September.
During the required public hearing, retired teacher Deanie Allen asked whether the district's budget was truly balanced, noting she saw "an almost $7 million deficit" in a draft; staff explained multiple separate budgets are adopted (general, child nutrition, debt service) and that a planned child nutrition deficit reflects purposely spending down built-up federal balances on one'time needs rather than shifting those funds to general operations.
Trustee Oscar Silva moved to approve the budgets as presented; the motion was seconded and passed 7'0to'0 unanimously. Mr. Bey said, if approved, the budget will be effective July 1 and staff will begin implementation.
Why it matters: The budgets set recurring district priorities for staffing, special education supports and one'time capital and program investments. The planned child nutrition spending reduces a large federal fund balance and finances kitchen infrastructure that the district says will speed meal service and improve efficiency.
Next steps: The district will return with a proposed tax rate in September for final adoption and will proceed with contract and purchasing processes before engaging vendors for the one'time child nutrition projects.
