Conroe ISD projecting $770M balanced budget for FY 2026-27

CISD also projects a tax rate of $0.9348 per $100 valuation, according to Garza’s presentation. The projected tax rate is $0.0148 less than the approved FY 2025-26 tax rate of $0.9496 per $100 valuation.

According to previous reporting, the district’s approved budget for FY 2025-26 was $761.05 million.

The current student population for the 2025-26 year is 72,757, and the projected 2026-27 student population will be 72,800. Garza said this means CISD will be facing flat or stagnant enrollment for the first time in many years.

CISD receives allotments from the state based on student population and district growth; a static population would affect the amount it receives. The state previously gifted the district a fast-growth allotment for being one of the “fastest-growing districts” over the past six years, Garza said. Due to the static enrollment, however, CISD projects to lose around $5 million-$9 million in funding in FY 2027-28, which Garza said could have “significant” implications on the planned opening of four new campuses.

Garza said CISD’s considerations for the 2026-27 proposed budget include:

• Student enrollment
• Opening of three new campuses: Arnold Middle School, Fowler Intermediate and Grand Oaks Junior High School
• A growing special education population
• The unknown impact of education savings accounts

An estimated timeline was presented at the board meeting for the approval of the 2026-27 budget:

• April 21: budget update
• April 30: preliminary property values
• June: compensation plan approval
• July: district-level planning and decision-making committee
• July 25: certified property values and tax rate circulation
• Aug. 18: public hearing on budget and tax rate adoption