Cy-Fair ISD Superintendent Doug Killian discussed a $2,000 one-time stipend for all hourly employees in the district contingent on a 12-cent tax increase through a voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, during the June 18 work session.
Latest update
The CFISD board of trustees will adopt the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget with an estimated $80.9 million shortfall at the June 22 regular meeting.
The district’s FY 2026-27 projected shortfall increased $13.5 million from the previous update after the board of trustees reached a majority decision to include a one-time $500 employees stipend and an increase in health insurance contributions in the proposed budget at the May 21 special-called budget workshop.
Board President Julie Hinaman said the $2,000 stipend is not currently included in the proposed budget, but will be discussed at the June 22 meeting.
How we got here
Texas school districts have the ability to raise a portion of their tax rate by 17 cents over the state threshold. District officials confirmed during the May 7 work session that the board was allowed to raise the maintenance and operations, or M&O, tax rate by 5 cents without requiring voter approval. However, an election is required to access the additional pennies.
Holding a VATRE was originally discussed May 7, when Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith provided a timeline for the election:
- Select an auditor by July 3 to perform an efficiency audit
- Call the election by Aug. 17
The board of trustees will vote to approve a financial audit June 22, and Smith said they would try to get the results back to the trustees by the August meeting. The CFISD board of trustees is not planned to meet in July.
The options
Killian had originally recommended going for a 7-cent M&O tax increase at the May 21 budget workshop, but he said he now recommends going for the full 12-cent increase, bringing an additional $103 million in revenue to the district.
Killian said without the 12-cent VATRE, the district would have to look at increasing classroom sizes and implementing fees for extra- and co-curricular activities.
Hinaman said a 7-cent M&O tax increase only covers the district’s loss in revenue from offering the 20% local homestead exemption. Additionally, Hinaman said the district is spending $60 million on transportation, while the state only offers $8 million in funding. He said the district provides these services for students because it’s something the community values.
“That’s another reason why we’re talking about coming to the community and asking for help and assistance,” Hinaman said. "That if that’s something you value, we need help to cover those costs, because we can’t do it all.”
The discussion
Trustee Christine Kalmbach said she hopes the district can look at making cuts where needed in order to be good stewards of the resources they’ve been given, as she’s concerned with the financial burden families in the community are feeling right now.
“This is a very, very difficult position that the community’s in, the district’s in,” Kalmbach said, “and [we’re] trying to take care of our district the best we can, so it’s very challenging.”
Also of note
The board of trustees will discuss and vote on an agreement that would expand the Air Force Junior ROTC programs by adding two units to Bridgeland and Cypress Park high schools.
This would bring four new employees to the district, and Smith said that while the Air Force does cover some of the costs of the program, it would cost the district $216,000.
“[I] would highly recommend we support this, and give our students another option for a plan after they go through high school,” Kalmbach said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to receive a plan and a purpose.”
Hinaman said she supports adding units to every school, but wanted to acknowledge that at the May 21 budget workshop, there was significant discussion around not adding any additional employees, programs or positions to the district for the 2026-27 school year.
“We want to do it all,” Hinaman said. "But we just have to make sure that if we choose to not be consistent, we’re at least transparent about it.”
Looking ahead
The CFISD board of trustees will meet for a regular meeting June 22 at 6 p.m. in the Mark Henry Administrative Building Boardroom.
