Godley ISD delays approval of 2026–27 budget after motion fails; special meeting to be scheduled

Godley Independent School District trustees opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026–27 budget and tax rate and heard an overview of major spending categories, but they did not approve the budget Tuesday after a motion to adopt failed for lack of a second.

During the public hearing, which the board opened at 6:02 p.m., Dr. Deer reviewed major object codes in the proposed budget. "We've got 21 million in estimated expenditures for instruction," Dr. Deer said, adding that "over 20 million of that is payroll cost." He also said curriculum and instructional leadership costs include a roughly $800,000 math adoption, contracted services are up across most categories, and transportation costs rose because the district purchased buses and outfitted them with cameras and radios. The presenter said the budget plans to use about $143,000 of the food service fund balance to limit lunch price increases and that the M&O budget is balanced.

The board questioned drivers of what had been reported as a 4.2% increase in the budget. Dr. Deer said payroll (teacher raises and compensation), contracted services and higher food costs were the primary factors and characterized the increase as roughly matching last year’s inflation. He also told trustees the district is projecting enrollment growth of between 150 and 160 students for next school year; board members had earlier noted about 53 students had taken state vouchers and could leave the district.

With CFO Mr. Davis absent due to a family emergency, trustees said they were uneasy finalizing the budget without Spencer, the staff member who had presented an earlier version at a workshop. A trustee moved to approve "the 2026 2027 fiscal year budget for the general fund, child nutrition fund, and debt service fund as presented and recommended," but the motion failed for lack of a second, and the board agreed to table the item. A board member noted earlier drafts had proposed using approximately $55,000 of fund balance; members said the current draft does not use fund balance.

Trustees instructed staff that the district must adopt a budget before June 30 and discussed scheduling a special meeting to complete that work; staff also noted the district could amend the adopted budget later if property tax values certified in July require adjustments. The meeting adjourned at 6:14 p.m.; the board said it will reconvene in a special session before June 30 to take final action on the budget.

The public hearing portion of the meeting recorded no public speakers. The board opened with an invocation by Dr. Nikki Nicks and the pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags.