Grapevine-Colleyville ISD trustees approved a balanced general fund budget, which includes raises for staff and raises the starting pay for certified teachers.
Trustees approved the $237.7 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27 during the June 15 meeting by a 5-2 vote, with trustees Darrell Brown and Lindsey Sheguit voting against.
The details
GCISD’s general fund revenues and expenditures are balanced at $185.23 million, respectively, according to district documents. According to a presentation by GCISD Chief Financial Officer Carla Settle, net of recapture and tax increment fund payments, 85.46% of the district’s expenditures are for payroll.
Settle said inflation is impacting increasing expenditures for fuel, freight and utilities. GCISD will also increase its contribution toward employee health insurance to at least $300, which will maintain compliance with the Affordable Care Act, Settle added. This results in a $450,000 increase in expenditures on the employer contribution toward health insurance.
GCISD officials also unanimously approved a compensation plan that increases expenditures by $1.8 million. According to the FY 2026-27 compensation plan, changes include:
- An increase in the starting certified teacher salary to $60,000 per year
- A 1% of midpoint increase for teachers and employees on the professional non-teaching and technology pay plans
- A 2% of midpoint increase for employees on the clerical pay plan, paraprofessionals on the instructional support pay plan and employees on the auxiliary pay plan
- Equity adjustments recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards' HR services and market adjustments, including an additional $5,000 pay increase for campus principals
Additionally, the adopted FY 2026-27 budget projected $39.72 million in revenues for the debt service fund and $47.92 million in expenditures. Settle said the district is looking to use fund balance for the debt service fund to cover the potential $8.2 million shortfall to mitigate a potential tax rate impact to residents.
The child nutrition fund, which will have a surplus of $10,327, will have revenues totaling nearly $4.56 million and expenditures close to $4.55 million, per district documents.
What they’re saying
Trustee Matt Foust voiced his support for the compensation adjustments, primarily for principals.
“I am heartened to see that the role of campus principal is being rewarded financially,” Foust said. “I do not want to find ourselves in a position where we are not incentivizing people who aspire toward campus leadership to be able to take that path.”
Trustee Darrell Brown said he voted against the budget because he disagreed with staffing cuts, which were not presented to the board.
“I can’t support a budget that cuts positions that I think cut too close to student needs, such as student advocates and GT lead specialists, because they’re really needed full-time every day,” he said.
Settle said the staffing cuts, which include reduced elementary and central administration positions, are projected to save GCISD nearly $5.24 million.
Zooming in
The projected tax rate for FY 2026-27 is unchanged from the fiscal year 2025-26 at $0.8686 per $100 valuation, per district documents. The proposed maintenance and operations component of the rate, which covers salaries and other general expenses, is $0.7054 per $100 valuation. The projected interest and sinking component of the rate, which helps repay debt, is $0.1632 per $100 valuation.
The estimated tax bill for a home within GCISD with the median value, $396,493, is $3,443.94, which is a reduction from the tax year 2025 bill of $3,522.05.
Looking ahead
GCISD officials plan to present a tax rate for adoption in August after receiving certified property values in July.
Settle said the budget for the debt service fund will be reevaluated in September after both the tax rate and certified values are set.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct an error. GCISD's Chief Financial Officer is Carla Settle.
