Leander ISD budget officials said the opening of Tom Glenn High School is one of several factors that accounted for a 5.4 percent increase in the district's operating budget.[/caption]

Leander ISD board of trustees said it does not want to adopt a higher tax rate for the 2016-17 school year, which begins Sept. 1.

At the board’s July 21 meeting, Chief Financial Officer Lucas Janda told trustees property values were set to increase in both Travis and Williamson counties by about 10 percent.

Board Vice President Pamela Waggoner said she was interested in lowering the tax rate to make up for the property value increase. Trustees did not discuss potential tax rates, but agreed the rate for the coming school year would be no higher than the current rate of $1.51187 per $100 of property valuation.

LISD estimates a 2016-17 school year budget in which $295 million in revenue would be offset by $313.7 million in expenditures. The budget would leave LISD with a deficit of about $18.7 million.

The proposed general operating budget is 5.4 percent higher than the 2015-16 budget. The increase was brought on by the need for additional personnel to account for the enrollment of about 38,000 new students, according to board documents. The opening of Tom Glenn High School, a 2-3 percent pay increase for personnel and the purchase of a new student information system also accounted for the increase, according to board documents.

LISD's 2015-16 fiscal year ends Aug. 31.

Trustees will hold a public hearing on the 2016-17 budget and tax rate Aug. 25 at 6:15 p.m. at the LISD Support Services Complex, 1900 Cougar Country Drive, Cedar Park. After the public hearing, trustees will likely adopt a budget and discuss and possibly adopt a new tax rate.