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Keller ISD previews balanced 2026–27 budget; staff propose 1% pay step and $25 monthly increase to district health contribution
Summary
District staff presented federal grant entitlements and a 2026–27 budget preview projecting a balanced budget with a modest surplus, proposed 1% across-the-board pay increases and a $25 monthly increase to the district portion of health insurance; trustees asked questions about revenue risks, TEA settle-up timing and staffing.
At a public hearing, Lee Cook walked trustees through the district’s federal entitlements under ESSA (Title I, Title I‑C, Title II, Title III ELA, Title IV and Perkins/CTE) and explained that the district must spend local funds first and draw down federal reimbursements monthly from TEA. Cook summarized the grant uses and staffing supported by federal dollars and answered trustees’ questions about the type of positions supported by the grants.
In the budget preview that followed, district finance staff presented a 2026–27 revenue projection and a path to adoption. Presenter and finance staff said they project approximately $346,405,813 in revenue for 2026–27 and described key assumptions and risks: certified property values arriving in July, ADA (average daily attendance) levels, TEA settle-up timing and state funding uncertainties. Staff noted a projected small surplus and proposed a compensation package that includes a step for salary‑schedule employees and a 1% pay increase for other staff, and a district health‑insurance contribution increase of about $25 per participating employee per month.
Trustees pressed on details: how the 38 Title I‑funded positions are distributed (instructional specialists and instructional coaches); how quickly TEA reimburses (Cook said the district draws down monthly and noted the district has been successful getting reimbursements); and what contingency exists if TEA settle-up figures differ from current projections (staff said they took a conservative approach and would settle up in the state’s schedule, typically in September or later). Several trustees praised the finance team for narrowing an earlier forecasted shortfall and producing a balanced budget plan.
The board did not adopt the budget at this meeting; staff will return with final numbers for adoption at the June 25 meeting (with certified property values and final TEA calculations expected in July).
