Waco ISD board adopts $168.88 million general fund budget for 2025–26

The Waco Independent School Board voted to adopt the district's budgets for fiscal year 2025–26, approving a proposed general fund budget of $168,880,277, a child nutrition fund of $11,643,012 and a debt service fund of $26,000,001.49.

Cheryl Davis, who presented the budgets to the board, said the proposals were prepared using an ADA estimate of 11,005.22 and updated property values. "The proposed general fund budget of $168,880,277, the child nutrition fund budget of $11,643,012, and the debt service fund budget of $26,000,001.49 are presented on the attached schedule," Davis said during her presentation. The budgets reflect an increase in appropriations relative to projected revenues, with administration noting planned operating transfers and an expected ending general-fund balance around $54.3 million after adjustments.

The budgets incorporate legislatively driven teacher-pay increases. Davis noted the district implemented HB 2 provisions: "classroom teachers as defined under TEC ... with 5 or more years of experience received a $5,000 salary increase, and classroom teachers with 3 to 4 years of experience received a $2,500 increase," and additional increases for other experience tiers. The district also raised the starting teacher salary from $53,000 to $54,000 and applied a 2% midpoint increase to other employees in their pay grades.

A trustee moved to adopt the recommended budgets; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The administration said it will post the adopted budgets and make any required technical amendments (for example, to reflect finalized contract figures for food-service equipment), and will provide monthly updates tied to the district's five‑year strategic plan.