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PSJA ISD adopts balanced 2025–26 budget and a $1.0110 tax rate
Summary
The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD board adopted a balanced 2025–26 budget and a proposed tax rate of $1.0110, citing stable enrollment and state funding changes; trustees discussed teacher raises, insurance cost increases and a net revenue mix influenced by a larger TIA award and SHARS reductions.
The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District Board of Education on Aug. 18 adopted a balanced budget for the 2025–26 school year and approved a total tax rate of $1.0110 per $100 of assessed value.
Board President Diana Y. Serna moved to adopt the rate and the balanced budget; the motion carried. Finance staff presented revenue drivers that helped balance the budget, including an estimated net increase tied to a larger Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) award and enrollment-driven state funding. Assistant Superintendent for Finance Rebecca Gonzales told trustees that maintenance-and-operations (M&O) would remain at $0.7869 while Interest & Sinking (I&S) would be $0.2241, producing the $1.0110 total tax rate.
Why it matters: trustees and staff described rising cost pressures — notably a planned increase in the district contribution to employee health insurance from $750 to $825 per month — and a projected $14.3 million in compensation-related costs for 2025–26. Dr. Alejandro Elias, the superintendent, framed the budget as sustainable while warning the Board that continued enrollment and attendance stability underpin the district’s fiscal outlook.
On the record: Trustee Serna summarized the motion to the Board as "the property tax be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 1.0110, which is effectively 11.6% increase in the tax rate." The board record notes that the effective increase reflects changes in taxable property values rather than a higher M&O component.
Next steps: The adopted budget allocates pay increases and program funding described during the meeting; staff will execute the budget and report back on implementation at future board meetings.
