Katy ISD's budget is set to increase by nearly $59 million from last year’s after the district’s board of trustees unanimously approved a $780,852,617 proposal Aug. 25. The fiscal year for 2015-2016 begins Sept. 1 and it assumes an enrollment increase of about 3,100 students, bringing the total number to 73,578. The budget also includes a 3 percent employee salary increase and an assumption of a 1 cent tax decrease, which is expected to be reviewed by the board next month, according to a KISD press release. “Thank you for stretching the dollar,” board president Charles Griffin said to KISD Chief Financial Officer Christopher Smith in reference to the anticipated tax decrease. John Pendergraff, who ran for the board of trustees this year, spoke during the public comment portion of the budget meeting and said despite the anticipated 1 cent tax decrease, taxes are still going up. “I understand the rate has gone down, but effectively everybody in the district has seen a 10 percent or more increase in their taxes this year and we appreciate your attempt to lower it a little bit, however, we’re getting priced out of our house,” Pendergraff said. The budget lists $374,539,880 in revenue from local sources, including property taxes, for its general fund, which is 79 percent of the district’s total budget and pays for KISD’s operational costs, including salaries, benefits and supplies. There is also a projected $243,233,619 in revenue from the state and $10,851,337 from the federal government going to KISD. The budget slots the majority of school district dollars for employee salaries and benefits at $538,126,846.