Humble ISD’s $451 million budget provides raises to all teachers and staff and leaves the district with a cushion as it prepares to build new schools.
The 2017-18 budget was approved unanimously by the board of trustees June 20 at a public hearing and special meeting.
The tax rate will remain at $1.52 per $100 valuation, a rate that has not changed for the past nine years.
The budget prepares HISD for future student growth, Chief Financial Officer Mike Seale said. HISD’s student population is expected to reach 52,014 by 2026—an increase of more than 10,000 students from 2016-17.
The growth will lead HISD to open six new schools by 2022, including Groves Elementary School in August and Middle School No. 9 for the 2018-2019 school year.
In the budget, the district will spend between $1.5 million and $1.7 million to help open Groves Elementary School, he said.
“A real driver for this budget was that we are positioning the district so that we will still have budget capacity when we need to open Middle School No. 9 next year,” Seale said.
The district will fund 70 new teachers and 19 additional bus drivers and bus aides while instructors will be awarded a 2 percent raise, Seale said.
It also includes investments in technology infrastructure and early childhood education.
“We’re extending our full day Pre-K to some of our campuses so all of our Title I campuses will have full-day Pre-K,” Seale said.